Proverbs 4 - New American Standard Bible 1995 with Strong Numbers

A Father’s Instruction

¹ Hear,[O] sons,the instructionof a father,And giveattentionthat you may gainunderstanding,

² For I giveyou soundteaching;Do not abandonmy instruction.

³ WhenI was a sonto my father,Tenderand the onlysonin the sightof my mother,

⁴ Then he taughtme and saidto me, "Let your heartholdfastmy words;Keepmy commandmentsand live;

⁵ Acquirewisdom!Acquireunderstanding!Do not forgetnorturnawayfrom the wordsof my mouth.

⁶ "Do not forsakeher, and she will guardyou; Loveher, and she will watchover you.

⁷ "The beginningof wisdom[is]: Acquirewisdom;And with allyour acquiring,getunderstanding.

⁸ "Prizeher, and she will exaltyou; She will honoryou ifyou embraceher.

⁹ "She will placeon your heada garlandof grace;She will presentyou with a crownof beauty."

¹⁰ Hear,my son,and acceptmy sayingsAnd the yearsof your lifewill be many.

¹¹ I have directedyou in the wayof wisdom;I have ledyou in uprightpaths.

¹² When you walk,your stepswill not be impeded;And ifyou run,you will not stumble.

¹³ Takeholdof instruction;do not letgo.Guardher, for she is your life.

¹⁴ Do not enterthe pathof the wickedAnd do not proceedin the wayof evilmen.

¹⁵ Avoidit, do not passby it; Turnawayfrom it and passon.

¹⁶ For they cannotsleepunlessthey doevil;And they are robbedof sleepunlessthey make [someone] stumble.

¹⁷ For they eatthe breadof wickednessAnd drinkthe wineof violence.

¹⁸ But the pathof the righteousis like the lightof dawn,That shinesbrighterand brighteruntilthe fullday.

¹⁹ The wayof the wickedis like darkness;They do not knowover whatthey stumble.

²⁰ My son,giveattentionto my words;Inclineyour earto my sayings.

²¹ Do not let them departfrom your sight;Keepthem in the midstof your heart.

²² For they are lifeto those who findthem And healthto alltheir body.

²³ Watchover your heartwith alldiligence,For from it [flow] the springsof life.

²⁴ Putawayfrom you a deceitfulmouthAnd putdeviousspeechfarfrom you.

²⁵ Let your eyeslookdirectlyaheadAnd let your gazebe fixedstraightin frontof you.

²⁶ Watchthe pathof your feetAnd allyour wayswill be established.

²⁷ Do not turnto the rightnorto the left;Turnyour footfrom evil.