Proverbs 4 — Legacy Standard Bible

A Father’s Wise Instruction

4Hear, O sons, the ^adiscipline of a father,And ^bpay attention that you may know understanding,²For I give you ¹sound ^alearning;^bDo not forsake my ²instruction.³When I was a son to my father,^aTender and ^bthe only son before my mother,⁴Then he ^ainstructed me and said to me,“Let your heart ^bhold fast my words;^cKeep my commandments and live;⁵^aAcquire wisdom! ^bAcquire understanding!Do not forget and do not turn away from the sayings of my mouth.⁶“Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;^aLove her, and she will guard you.⁷“¹^,^aThe beginning of wisdom is: ^bAcquire wisdom;And with all your acquiring, acquire understanding.⁸“^aPrize her, and she will exalt you;She will honor you if you embrace her.⁹“She will give ^afor your head a garland of grace;She will present you with a crown of beauty.”¹⁰Hear, my son, and ^areceive my sayingsAnd the ^byears of your life will be many.¹¹I have ^ainstructed you in the way of wisdom;I have led you in upright tracks.¹²When you walk, your ^asteps will not be impeded;And if you run, you ^bwill not stumble.¹³^aSeize discipline; do not let go.Guard her, for she is your ^blife.¹⁴^aDo not enter the path of wicked menAnd do not step into the way of evil men.¹⁵Avoid it, do not pass by it;^aStray from it and pass on.¹⁶For they ^ado not sleep unless they do evil;And ¹they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.¹⁷For they ^aeat the bread of wickednessAnd drink the wine of violence.¹⁸But the ^apath of the righteous is like the ^blight of dawn,That ^cshines brighter and brighter until the ^dfullness of day.¹⁹The ^away of the wicked is like thick darkness;They do not know over what they ¹^,^bstumble.²⁰My son, ^apay attention to my words;^bIncline your ear to my sayings.²¹^aDo not let them deviate from your eyes;^bKeep them in the midst of your heart.²²For they are ^alife to those who find themAnd ^bhealing to all his flesh.²³Guard your heart with all diligence,For ^afrom it flow the springs of life.²⁴Put away from you a ^aperverse mouthAnd ^bput devious lips far from you.²⁵Let your eyes look directly aheadAnd even let your eyelids be fixed straight in front of you.²⁶^aWatch the track of your feetAnd all your ^bways will be established.²⁷^aDo not turn to the right nor to the left;^bTurn your foot from evil.