Proverbs 4:1-13
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 4
1Listen, my sons, to the instruction of a father, And pay attention so that you may gain understanding, 2For I give you good teaching; Do not abandon my instruction. 3When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, 4He taught me and said to me, 'Let your heart take hold of my words; Keep my commandments and live; 5Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. 6Do not abandon her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. 7The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your possessions, acquire understanding. 8Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her. 9She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty.' 10Listen, my son, and accept my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. 11I have instructed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths. 12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; And if you run, you will not stumble. 13Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.King James Version
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 4
1Listen, sons, to a father’s discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding, 2for I am giving you good instruction. Don’t abandon my teaching. 3When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother, 4he taught me and said: "Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live. 5Get wisdom, get understanding; don’t forget or turn away from the words from my mouth. 6Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you. 7Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding. 8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you. 9She will place a garland of favor on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty." 10Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years. 11I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths. 12When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble. 13Hold on to instruction; don’t let go. Guard it, for it is your life.New Living Translation
Chapter 4
1My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment, 2for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions. 3For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.
4My father taught me, 'Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live.
5Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
6Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you.
7Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
8If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you.
9She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.'
10My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life.
11I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths.
12When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble.
13Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.
English Standard Version
Chapter 4
1 Hear, O sons, a father 's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, 2for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. 3When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, 4he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. 5 Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. 6Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. 7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. 8Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. 9She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown." 10 Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. 11I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. 12When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. 13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.New International Version
Chapter 4
1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. 2I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. 3For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. 4Then he taught me, and he said to me, "Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. 5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. 6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. 7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. 8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown."
10Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.
11I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
New King James Version
