PROVERBS
CHAPTER 4

Wisdom Is Supreme

¹ Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
² I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
³ When I was a boy in my father's house,
still tender, and an only child of my mother,
⁴ he taught me and said,
"Lay hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands and you will live.
⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them.
⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
⁷ Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, ^[1] get understanding.
⁸ Esteem her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
⁹ She will set a garland of grace on your head
and present you with a crown of splendor."

¹⁰ Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
¹¹ I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
¹³ Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
¹⁴ Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evil men.
¹⁵ Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
¹⁶ For they cannot sleep till they do evil;
they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.
¹⁷ They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸ The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
¹⁹ But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.

²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say;
listen closely to my words.
²¹ Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
²² for they are life to those who find them
and health to a man's whole body.
²³ Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
²⁴ Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.
²⁶ Make level ^[2] paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.
²⁷ Do not swerve to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.

Footnotes

1. 4:7 Or Whatever else you get
2. 4:26 Or Consider the

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Bible text from Gospelcom.net.  Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

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