Proverbs 4
1 Hear, ye children, the instruction
of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 For I give you a good gift; forsake
ye not my law. 3 For I also was a son
obedient to my father, and loved in the sight of
my mother:
4 who spoke and instructed me,
saying, Let our speech be fixed in thine heart, keep
our commandments, forget them not:
5 and do not neglect the speech of my
mouth.aSee Appendix - Alexandrian codex has: “Get wisdom, get understanding,
forget not, nor decline from the words of my mouth.”
6 And forsake it not, and it shall
cleave to thee: love it, and it shall keep thee.
8 bLit. dig a trench about her, see Heb.Secure it, and it shall exalt thee: honour it, that it may embrace thee;
9 that it may give unto thy head a
crown of graces, and may cover thee with a crown of delight.
10 Hear,
my son, and receive my words; and the years of thy
life shall be increased, that the resources of thy life may be many.
11 For I teach thee the ways of
wisdom; and I cause thee to go in right
cGr. wheel-tracks, see chap 2. 18; Heb. 12. 13.paths. 12 For when thou goest, thy
steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not be
distressed. 13 Take hold of my
instruction; let it not go,—but keep it for thyself for thy life.
14 Go not in the ways of the ungodly,
neither covet the ways of transgressors.
15 In whatever place they shall pitch
their camp, go not thither; but turn from them, and pass away.
16 For they cannot sleep, unless they
have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not.
17 For these live upon the bread of
ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.
18 But the ways of the righteous
shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day
dGr. order itself aright.be fully come. 19 But the ways of
the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble.
20 My son,
attend to my speech; and apply thine ear to my words:
21 that thy fountains may not fail
thee; keep them in thine heart.
22 For they are life to those that
find them, and
eOr, healing.health to all their flesh.
23 Keep thine heart with the utmost
care; for out of these are the issues of life.
24 Remove from thee a froward mouth,
and put far away from thee unjust lips.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, and
let thine eyelids assent to just
things.
26 Make straight paths for thy feet,
and order thy ways aright. 27 Turn
not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away thy foot from an
evil way: 27a [fHeb. omits.for God knows the ways on the right hand, but those on the left are crooked:]
27b and he will make thy ways
straight, and will guide thy steps in peace.