Parallel Bible results for "proverbs 4"

Proverbs 4

English Standard Version ESV

1 Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,

2 for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.

3 When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,

4 he 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.

6 Do 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.

8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.

9 She 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.

11 I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.

12 When 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.

14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.

15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.

16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.

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, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

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

20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.

21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.

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

23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.

25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.

26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.

27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away 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.