1995 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Proverbs 4

1 Solomon, to persuade obedience, 3 sheweth what instruction he had of his parents, 5 to study wisdom, 14 and to shun the path of the wicked. 20 He exhorteth to faith, 23 and sanctification.

 4:1 Hear 8085, [O] sons 1121, the instruction 4148 of a father 1, And give 7181 attention 7181 that you may gain 3045 understanding 998,

 4:2 For I give 5414 you sound 2896a teaching 3948; Do not abandon 5800a my instruction 8451.

 4:3 When 3588 I was a son 1121 to my father 1, Tender 7390 and the only 3173 son 3173 in the sight 6440 of my mother 517,

 4:4 Then he taught 3384 me and said 559 to me, “Let your heart 3820 hold 8551 fast 8551 my words 1697; Keep 8104 my commandments 4687 and live 2421a;

 4:5 Acquire 7069 wisdom 2451! Acquire 7069 understanding 998! Do not forget 7911 nor 408 turn 5186 away 5186 from the words 561 of my mouth 6310.

 4:6 “Do not forsake 5800a her, and she will guard 8104 you; Love 157 her, and she will watch 5341 over you.

 4:7 “The beginning 7225 of wisdom 2451 [is]: Acquire 7069 wisdom 2451; And with all 3605 your acquiring 7075, get 7069 understanding 998.

 4:8 “Prize 5549 her, and she will exalt 7311 you; She will honor 3513 you if 3588 you embrace 2263 her.

 4:9 “She will place 5414 on your head 7218 a garland 3880 of grace 2580; She will present 4042 you with a crown 5850 of beauty 8597.”

 4:10 ¶ Hear 8085, my son 1121, and accept 3947 my sayings 561 And the years 8141 of your life 2425b will be many 7235a.

 4:11 I have directed 3384 you in the way 1870 of wisdom 2451; I have led 1869 you in upright 3476 paths 4570.

 4:12 When you walk 1980, your steps 6806 will not be impeded 6887a; And if 518 you run 7323, you will not stumble 3782.

 4:13 Take 2388 hold 2388 of instruction 4148; do not let 7503 go 7503. Guard 5341 her, for she is your life 2425b.

 4:14 Do not enter 935 the path 734 of the wicked 7563 And do not proceed 833 in the way 1870 of evil 7451a men 7451a.

 4:15 Avoid 6544a it, do not pass 5674a by it; Turn 7847 away 7847 from it and pass 5674a on.

 4:16 For they cannot 3808 sleep 3462 unless 518 3808 they do 7489a evil 7489a; And they are robbed 1497 of sleep 8142 unless 518 3808 they make [someone] stumble 3782.

 4:17 For they eat 3898b the bread 3899 of wickedness 7562 And drink 8354 the wine 3196 of violence 2555.

 4:18 But the path 734 of the righteous 6662 is like the light 216 of dawn 5051, That shines 215 brighter 1980 and brighter 1980 until 5704 the full 3559 day 3117.

 4:19 The way 1870 of the wicked 7563 is like darkness 653; They do not know 3045 over what 4100 they stumble 3782.

 4:20 ¶ My son 1121, give 7181 attention 7181 to my words 561; Incline 5186 your ear 241 to my sayings 561.

 4:21 Do not let them depart 3868 from your sight 5869; Keep 8104 them in the midst 8432 of your heart 3824.

 4:22 For they are life 2425b to those who find 4672 them And health 4832 to all 3605 their body 1320.

 4:23 Watch 5341 over your heart 3820 with all 3605 diligence 4929, For from it [flow] the springs 8444 of life 2425b.

 4:24 Put 5493 away 5493 from you a deceitful 6143 mouth 6310 And put 7368 devious 3891 speech 8193 far 7368 from you.

 4:25 Let your eyes 5869 look 5027 directly 5227 ahead 5227 And let your gaze 6079 be fixed 3474 straight 3474 in front 5048 of you.

 4:26 Watch 6424 the path 4570 of your feet 7272 And all 3605 your ways 1870 will be established 3559.

 4:27 Do not turn 5186 to the right 3225 nor 408 to the left 8040; Turn 5493 your foot 7272 from evil 7451b.