Proverbs 4 ESV | WeDevote Bible

A Father’s Wise Instruction

14:1 ch. 1:8; [ch. 5:7; 7:24; 8:33; Ps. 34:11] Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,

and be attentive, that you may 4:1 ch. 2:2gain4:1 Hebrew know insight,

2for I give you good 4:2 Job 11:4precepts;

do not forsake my teaching.

3When I was a son with my father,

4:3 See 1 Chr. 22:5tender, 4:3 Zech. 12:10the only one in the sight of my mother,

4he 4:4 1 Chr. 28:9; [Eph. 6:4] taught me and said to me,

4:4 [ch. 3:1] “Let your heart hold fast my words;

4:4 ch. 7:2; Lev. 18:5; Isa. 55:3keep my commandments, and live.

54:5 ch. 2:2Get wisdom; get 4:5 [See ver. 1above]insight;

do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

6Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;

4:6 [2 Thess. 2:10]love her, and she will guard you.

74:7 [ch. 1:7] The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,

and whatever you get, get 4:7 [See ver. 1above]insight.

8Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;

she will 4:8 1 Sam. 2:30honor you 4:8 [Song 2:6]if you embrace her.

9She will place on your head 4:9 ch. 1:9a graceful garland;

she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

104:10 [See ver. 1above] Hear, 4:10 ch. 2:1my son, and accept my words,

that 4:10 See ch. 3:2the years of your life may be many.

11I have 4:11 See 1 Sam. 12:23taught you the way of wisdom;

I have led you in the paths of uprightness.

12When you walk, 4:12 [Job 18:7; Ps. 18:36; 119:45] your step will not be hampered,

and 4:12 ch. 3:23if you run, you will not stumble.

134:13 ch. 3:18Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;

guard her, for she is your 4:13 ver. 22; [John 1:4; 1 John 5:12]life.

144:14 ch. 1:15; Ps. 1:1Do not enter the path of the wicked,

and do not walk in the way of the evil.

15Avoid it; do not go on it;

turn away from it and pass on.

16For they 4:16 [Ps. 36:4]cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;

they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.

17For they eat the bread of wickedness

4:17 [Amos 2:8]and drink the wine of violence.

18But 4:18 Job 11:17; 22:28; Isa. 60:3; 62:1, 2; Dan. 12:3the path of the righteous is like 4:18 2 Sam. 23:4; See Ps. 97:11the light of dawn,

which shines 4:18 [Ps. 84:7] brighter and brighter until 4:18 [1 John 3:2]full day.

194:19 1 Sam. 2:9; Isa. 59:9, 10; Jer. 23:12; John 12:35; [Job 18:5] The way of the wicked is like deep 4:19 [Matt. 6:23] darkness;

they do not know over what they 4:19 [John 11:10; 1 John 2:10]stumble.

204:20 ver. 10My son, be attentive to my words;

incline your ear to my sayings.

214:21 ch. 3:21Let them not escape from your sight;

4:21 [ch. 2:1]keep them within your heart.

22For they are 4:22 ver. 13; ch. 8:35; 21:21; Deut. 32:47; [1 Tim. 4:8]life to those who find them,

and healing to all their4:22 Hebrew his flesh.

23Keep your heart with all vigilance,

for 4:23 [Matt. 12:35] from it flow 4:23 [Ps. 16:11]the springs of life.

24Put away from you 4:24 ch. 6:12crooked speech,

and put 4:24 ch. 2:15devious talk far from you.

254:25 [Heb. 12:2]Let your eyes look directly forward,

and your gaze be straight before you.

264:26 ch. 5:6, 21; [Heb. 12:13] Ponder4:26 Or Make level the path of your feet;

4:26 [Ps. 119:5]then all your ways will be sure.

274:27 Deut. 5:32; 28:14; Josh. 1:7; 1 Kgs. 15:5Do not swerve to the right or to the left;

turn your foot away from evil.

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