Parallel Bible results for "proverbs 4"

Proverbs 4

MSG

KJV

1 Listen, friends, to some fatherly advice; sit up and take notice so you'll know how to live.
1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 I'm giving you good counsel; don't let it go in one ear and out the other.
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3 When I was a boy at my father's knee, the pride and joy of my mother,
3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4 He would sit me down and drill me: "Take this to heart. Do what I tell you - live!
4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
5 Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding! Don't forget one word! Don't deviate an inch!
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6 Never walk away from Wisdom - she guards your life; love her - she keeps her eye on you.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7 Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting 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.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9 She'll garland your life with grace, she'll festoon your days with beauty."
9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
10 Dear friend, take my advice; it will add years to your life.
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
11 I'm writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I'm drawing a map to Righteous Road.
11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
12 I don't want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns.
12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 Hold tight to good advice; don't relax your grip. Guard it well - your life is at stake!
13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
14 Don't take Wicked Bypass; don't so much as set foot on that road.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15 Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth. Make a detour and be on your way.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
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.
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17 Perversity is their food and drink, violence their drug of choice.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18 The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine.
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
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
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
20 Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice.
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart!
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they're bursting with health.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25 Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27 Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.