Parallel Bible results for "proverbs 4"

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Proverbs 4

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1 Listen, friends, to some fatherly advice; sit up and take notice so you'll know how to live.
1 Listen, sons, to a father's instruction. Pay attention and 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 sound learning. Don't forsake my law.
3 When I was a boy at my father's knee, the pride and joy of my mother,
3 For I was a son to my father, Tender and an only child 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, and said to me: "Let your 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. Don't forget, neither swerve 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 Don't forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!
7 Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, 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 Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.
9 She'll garland your life with grace, she'll festoon your days with beauty."
9 She will give to your head a garland of grace. A crown of splendor will she deliver to you."
10 Dear friend, take my advice; it will add years to your life.
10 Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11 I'm writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I'm drawing a map to Righteous Road.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in paths of uprightness.
12 I don't want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns.
12 When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold tight to good advice; don't relax your grip. Guard it well - your life is at stake!
13 Take firm hold of instruction. Don't let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Don't take Wicked Bypass; don't so much as set foot on that road.
14 Don't enter into the path of the wicked. Don't walk 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, and don't pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
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 don't sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone 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 righteous is like the dawning light, That shines more and more until 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 like darkness. They don't know what they stumble over.
20 Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice.
20 My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21 Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart!
21 Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they're bursting with health.
22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to their whole body.
23 Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it is the wellspring of life.
24 Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
24 Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25 Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
26 Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27 Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.
27 Don't turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your 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 World English Bible is in the public domain.