ProPr ProverbsProverbi, chaptercapitolo Proverbs of SolomonProverbi di Salomone, chaptercapitolo 4

A Father’s Instruction

Listen, my sons, to the instruction of a father,

And pay attention so that you may (a)4:1 Lit knowgain understanding,

For I give you good teaching;

Do not abandon my (b)4:2 Or lawinstruction.

When I was a son to my father,

Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,

He taught me and said to me,

“Let your heart take hold of my words;

Keep my commandments and live;1Ch 28:9

Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!

Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

“Do not abandon her, and she will guard you;

Love her, and she will watch over you.

“The (c)4:7 Or primary thing is wisdombeginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;

And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.

“Prize her, and she will exalt you;

She will honor you if you embrace her.Dan 2:46

“She will place on your head a garland of grace;

She will present you with a crown of beauty.”Pro 1:9

¶Listen, my son, and accept my sayings,

And the years of your life will be many.Pro 3:2

I have instructed you in the way of wisdom;

I have led you in upright paths.

When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;

And if you run, you will not stumble.

Take hold of instruction; do not let go.

Guard her, for she is your life.

Do not enter the path of the wicked

And do not proceed in the way of evil people.Psa 1:1; Pro 1:10

Avoid it, do not pass by it;

Turn away from it and pass on.

For they cannot sleep unless they do evil;

And (d)4:16 Lit their sleep is robbedthey are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.Est 6:4; Psa 36:4; Mic 2:1

For they eat the bread of wickedness,

And drink the wine of violence.Pro 1:13

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn

That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.Psa 97:11; Mat 5:16

The way of the wicked is like darkness;

They do not know over what they (e)4:19 Or may stumblestumble.Deu 28:29; Isa 59:10

¶My son, pay attention to my words;

Incline your ear to my sayings.

They are not to escape from your sight;

Keep them in the midst of your heart.

For they are life to those who find them,

And healing to all (f)4:22 Lit histheir body.Psa 19:7

Watch over your heart with all diligence,

For from it flow the springs of life.Mat 6:1; Heb 13:9

Rid yourself of a deceitful mouth

And keep devious (g)4:24 Or lipsspeech far from you.

Let your eyes look directly ahead

And let your (h)4:25 Or eyelidsgaze be fixed straight in front of you.Job 31:1

(i)4:26 I.e., prob. stay on the pathWatch the path of your feet,

And all your ways will be established.Heb 12:13

Do not turn to the right or to the left;

Turn your foot from evil.Deu 5:32