Parallel Bible results for "proverbs 4"

Proverbs 4

NIV

CEB

1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
1 Hear, children, fatherly instruction; pay attention to gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.
2 I'll teach you well. Don't abandon my instruction.
3 For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother.
3 When I was a son to my father, tender and my mother's favorite,
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.
4 he taught me and said to me: "Let your heart hold on to my words: Keep my commands and live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.
5 Get wisdom; get understanding. Don't forget and don't turn away from my words.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
6 Don't abandon her, and she will guard you. Love her, and she will protect you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
7 The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom! Get understanding before anything else.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
8 Highly esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”
9 She will place a graceful wreath on your head; she will give you a glorious crown."
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.
10 Listen, my son, and take in my speech, then the years of your life will be many.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
11 I teach you the path of wisdom. I lead you in straight courses.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
12 When you walk, you won't be hindered; when you run, you won't stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
13 Hold on to instruction; don't slack off; protect it, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
14 Don't go on the way of the wicked; don't walk on the path of evil people.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
15 Avoid it! Don't turn onto it; stay off of it and keep going!
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
16 They don't sleep unless they do evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
17 They eat the bread of evil, and they drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
18 The way of the righteous is like morning light that gets brighter and brighter till it is full day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
19 The path of the wicked is like deep darkness; they don't know where they will stumble.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.
20 My son, pay attention to my words. Bend your ear to my speech.
21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
21 Don't let them slip from your sight. Guard them in your mind.
22 for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.
22 They are life to those who find them, and healing for their entire body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
23 More than anything you guard, protect your mind, for life flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
24 Have nothing to do with a corrupt mouth; keep devious lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.
25 Focus your eyes straight ahead; keep your gaze on what is in front of you.
26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.
26 Watch your feet on the way, and all your paths will be secure.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
27 Don't deviate a bit to the right or the left; turn your feet away from evil.
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Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible