Parallel
Proverbs 4
World English Bible British Edition · Berean Standard Bible
Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction.
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
For I was a son to my father,
When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
He taught me, and said to me:
he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
Wisdom is supreme.
Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire (note: Or And whatever else you acquire), gain understanding.
Esteem her, and she will exalt you.
Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
She will give to your head a garland of grace.
She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
Listen, my son, and receive my sayings.
Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
I have taught you in the way of wisdom.
I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
When you go, your steps will not be hampered.
When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
Take firm hold of instruction.
Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
Don’t enter into the path of the wicked.
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
For they don’t sleep unless they do evil.
For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
For they eat the bread of wickedness
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
The way of the wicked is like darkness.
But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
For they are life to those who find them,
For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
Keep your heart with all diligence,
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
Put away from yourself a perverse mouth.
Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
Make the path of your feet level.
Make a level path for your feet (note: Or Ponder the path for your feet; LXX Make straight paths for your feet; cited in Hebrews 12:13), and all your ways will be sure.
Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.