Proverbs 4

NIRV — New International Reader's Version Bible (NIRV)

AMP — Amplified Bible (AMP)

Verse 1

My sons, listen to a father’s teaching.
Pay attention and gain understanding.

Hear, O children, the instruction of a father,
And pay attention [and be willing to learn] so that you may gain understanding and intelligent discernment.

Verse 2

I give you good advice.
So don’t turn away from what I teach you.

For I give you good doctrine;
Do not ^[a]turn away from my instruction.

Verse 3

I, too, was once a young boy in my father’s house.
And my mother loved me deeply.

When I was a son with my father (David),
Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother (Bathsheba),

Verse 4

Then my father taught me.
He said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart.
Keep my commands, and you will live.

He taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
Keep my commandments and live.

Verse 5

Get wisdom, and get understanding.
Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.

“Get [skillful and godly] wisdom! Acquire understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation]!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

Verse 6

Stay close to wisdom, and she will keep you safe.
Love her, and she will watch over you.

“Do not ^[b]turn away from her (Wisdom) and she will guard and protect you;
Love her, and she will watch over you.

Verse 7

To start being wise you must first get wisdom.
No matter what it costs, get understanding.

“The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]!
And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation].

Verse 8

Value wisdom highly, and she will lift you up.
Hold her close, and she will honor you.

“Prize wisdom [and exalt her], and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.

Verse 9

She will set a beautiful crown on your head.
She will give you a glorious crown.”

“She will place on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty and glory.”

Verse 10

My son, listen. Accept what I say.
Then you will live for many years.

Hear, my son, and accept my sayings,
And the years of your life will be many.

Verse 11

I instruct you in the way of wisdom.
I lead you along straight paths.

I have instructed you in the way of [skillful and godly] wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.

Verse 12

When you walk, nothing will slow you down.
When you run, you won’t trip and fall.

When you walk, your steps will not be impeded [for your path will be clear and open];
And when you run, you will not stumble.

Verse 13

Hold on to my teaching and don’t let it go.
Guard it well, because it is your life.

Take hold of instruction; [actively seek it, grip it firmly and] do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your life.

Verse 14

Don’t take the path of evil people.
Don’t live the way sinners do.

Do not enter the path of the wicked,
And do not go the way of evil men.

Verse 15

Stay away from their path and don’t travel on it.
Turn away from it and go on your way.

Avoid it, do not travel on it;
Turn away from it and pass on.

Verse 16

Sinners can’t rest until they do what is evil.
They can’t sleep until they make someone sin.

For the wicked cannot sleep unless they do evil;
And they are deprived of sleep unless they make someone stumble and fall.

Verse 17

They do evil just as easily as they eat food.
They hurt others as easily as they drink wine.

For they eat the bread of wickedness
And drink the wine of violence.

Verse 18

The path of those who do right is like the sun in the morning.
It shines brighter and brighter until the full light of day.

But the path of the just (righteous) is like the light of dawn,
That shines brighter and brighter until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day.

Verse 19

But the way of those who do what is wrong is like deep darkness.
They don’t know what makes them trip and fall.

The way of the wicked is like [deep] darkness;
They do not know over what they stumble.

Verse 20

My son, pay attention to what I say.
Listen closely to my words.

My son, pay attention to my words and be willing to learn;
Open your ears to my sayings.

Verse 21

Don’t let them out of your sight.
Keep them in your heart.

Do not let them escape from your sight;
Keep them in the center of your heart.

Verse 22

They are life to those who find them.
They are health to a person’s whole body.

For they are life to those who find them,
And healing and health to all their flesh.

Verse 23

Above everything else, guard your heart.
Everything you do comes from it.

Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.

Verse 24

Don’t speak with twisted words.
Keep evil talk away from your lips.

Put away from you a deceitful (lying, misleading) mouth,
And put devious lips far from you.

Verse 25

Let your eyes look straight ahead.
Keep looking right in front of you.

Let your eyes look directly ahead [toward the path of moral courage]
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you [toward the path of integrity].

Verse 26

Think carefully about the paths that your feet walk on.
Always choose the right ways.

Consider well and watch carefully the path of your feet,
And all your ways will be steadfast and sure.

Verse 27

Don’t turn to the right or left.
Keep your feet from the path of evil.

Do not turn away to the right nor to the left [where evil may lurk];
Turn your foot from [the path of] evil.