Parallel Bible results for "proverbs 4"

Proverbs 4

The Complete Jewish Bible CJB

1 Listen, children, to a father's instruction; pay attention, in order to gain insight;

2 for I am giving you good advice; so don't abandon my teaching.

3 For I too was once a child to my father; and my mother, too, thought of me as her special darling.

4 He too taught me; he said to me, "Let your heart treasure my words; keep my commands, and live;

5 gain wisdom, gain insight; don't forget or turn from the words I am saying.

6 Don't abandon [wisdom]; then she will preserve you; love her, and she will protect you.

7 The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom! And along with all your getting, get insight!

8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will bring you honor;

9 she will give your head a garland of grace, bestow on you a crown of glory."

10 Listen, my son, receive what I say, and the years of your life will be many.

11 I'm directing you on the way of wisdom, guiding you in paths of uprightness;

12 when you walk, your step won't be hindered; and if you run, you won't stumble.

13 Hold fast to discipline, don't let it go; guard it, for it is your life.

14 Don't follow the path of the wicked or walk on the way of evildoers.

15 Avoid it, don't go on it, turn away from it, and pass on.

16 For they can't sleep if they haven't done evil, they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone fall.

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining ever brighter until full daylight.

19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; they don't even know what makes them stumble.

20 My son, pay attention to what I am saying; incline your ear to my words.

21 Don't let them out of your sight, keep them deep in your heart;

22 for they are life to those who find them and health to their whole being.

23 Above everything else, guard your heart; for it is the source of life's consequences.

24 Keep crooked speech out of your mouth, banish deceit from your lips.

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze on what lies in front of you.

26 Level the path for your feet, let all your ways be properly prepared;

27 then deviate neither right nor left; and keep your foot far from evil.

The Message Bible MSG

1 Listen, friends, to some fatherly advice; sit up and take notice so you'll know how to live.

2 I'm giving you good counsel; don't let it go in one ear and out the other.

3 When I was a boy at my father's knee, the pride and joy of my mother,

4 He would sit me down and drill me: "Take this to heart. Do what I tell you - live!

5 Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding! Don't forget one word! Don't deviate an inch!

6 Never walk away from Wisdom - she guards your life; love her - she keeps her eye on you.

7 Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!

8 Throw your arms around her - believe me, you won't regret it; never let her go - she'll make your life glorious.

9 She'll garland your life with grace, she'll festoon your days with beauty."

10 Dear friend, take my advice; it will add years to your life.

11 I'm writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I'm drawing a map to Righteous Road.

12 I don't want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns.

13 Hold tight to good advice; don't relax your grip. Guard it well - your life is at stake!

14 Don't take Wicked Bypass; don't so much as set foot on that road.

15 Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth. Make a detour and be on your way.

16 Evil people are restless unless they're making trouble; They can't get a good night's sleep unless they've made life miserable for somebody.

17 Perversity is their food and drink, violence their drug of choice.

18 The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine.

19 But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker - travelers can't see a thing; they fall flat on their faces. Learn It by Heart

20 Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice.

21 Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart!

22 Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they're bursting with health.

23 Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts.

24 Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.

25 Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions.

26 Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you.

27 Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.