Proverbs 4 :: New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

A Father’s Instruction

1 Listen ^H8085, my sons ^H1121, to the instruction ^H4148 of a father ^H1,

And pay ^H7181 attention ^H7181 so that you may [fn]gain ^H3045 understanding ^H998,

2 For I give ^H5414 you good ^H2896 teaching ^H3948;

Do not abandon ^H5800 my [fn]instruction ^H8451.

3 When ^H3588 I was a son ^H1121 to my father ^H1,

Tender ^H7390 and the only ^H3173 son ^H3173 in the sight ^H6440 of my mother ^H517,

4 He taught ^H3384 me and said ^H559 to me,

“Let your heart ^H3820 take ^H8551 hold ^H8551 of my words ^H1697;

Keep ^H8104 my commandments ^H4687 and live ^H2421;

5 Acquire ^H7069 wisdom ^H2451! Acquire ^H7069 understanding ^H998!

Do not forget ^H7911 nor ^H408 turn ^H5186 away ^H5186 from the words ^H561 of my mouth ^H6310.

6 “Do not abandon ^H5800 her, and she will guard ^H8104 you;

Love ^H157 her, and she will watch ^H5341 over you.

7 “The [fn]beginning ^H7225 of wisdom ^H2451 is: Acquire ^H7069 wisdom ^H2451;

And with all ^H3605 your possessions ^H7075, acquire ^H7069 understanding ^H998.

8 “Prize ^H5549 her, and she will exalt ^H7311 you;

She will honor ^H3513 you if ^H3588 you embrace ^H2263 her.

9 “She will place ^H5414 on your head ^H7218 a garland ^H3880 of grace ^H2580;

She will present ^H4042 you with a crown ^H5850 of beauty ^H8597.”

10 Listen ^H8085, my son ^H1121, and accept ^H3947 my sayings ^H561,

And the years ^H8141 of your life ^H2416 will be ^H7235 many ^H7235.

11 I have instructed ^H3384 you in the way ^H1870 of wisdom ^H2451;

I have led ^H1869 you in upright ^H3476 paths ^H4570.

12 When you walk ^H1980, your steps ^H6806 will not be hampered ^H6887;

And if ^H518 you run ^H7323, you will not stumble ^H3782.

13 Take ^H2388 hold ^H2388 of instruction ^H4148; do not let ^H7503 go ^H7503.

Guard ^H5341 her, for she is your life ^H2416.

14 Do not enter ^H935 the path ^H734 of the wicked ^H7563

And do not proceed ^H833 in the way ^H1870 of evil ^H7451 people ^H7451.

15 Avoid ^H6544 it, do not pass ^H5674 by it;

Turn ^H7847 away ^H7847 from it and pass ^H5674 on ^H5674.

16 For they cannot ^H3808 sleep ^H3462 unless ^H518 H3808 they do ^H7489 evil ^H7489;

And [fn]they are robbed ^H1497 of sleep ^H8142 unless ^H518 H3808 they make someone stumble ^H3782.

17 For they eat ^H3898 the bread ^H3899 of wickedness ^H7562,

And drink ^H8354 the wine ^H3196 of violence ^H2555.

18 But the path ^H734 of the righteous ^H6662 is like the light ^H216 of dawn ^H5051

That shines ^H215 brighter ^H1980 and brighter ^H1980 until ^H5704 the full ^H3559 day ^H3117.

19 The way ^H1870 of the wicked ^H7563 is like darkness ^H653;

They do not know ^H3045 over what ^H4100 they [fn]stumble ^H3782.

20 My son ^H1121, pay ^H7181 attention ^H7181 to my words ^H561;

Incline ^H5186 your ear ^H241 to my sayings ^H561.

21 They are not to escape ^H3868 from your sight ^H5869;

Keep ^H8104 them in the midst ^H8432 of your heart ^H3824.

22 For they are life ^H2416 to those who find ^H4672 them,

And healing ^H4832 to all ^H3605 [fn]their body ^H1320.

23 Watch ^H5341 over your heart ^H3820 with all ^H3605 diligence ^H4929,

For from it flow the springs ^H8444 of life ^H2416.

24 Rid ^H5493 yourself of a deceitful ^H6143 mouth ^H6310

And keep ^H7368 devious ^H3891 [fn]speech ^H8193 far ^H7368 from you.

25 Let your eyes ^H5869 look ^H5027 directly ^H5227 ahead ^H5227

And let your [fn]gaze ^H6079 be fixed ^H3474 straight ^H3474 in front ^H5048 of you.

26 [fn]Watch ^H6424 the path ^H4570 of your feet ^H7272,

And all ^H3605 your ways ^H1870 will be established ^H3559.

27 Do not turn ^H5186 to the right ^H3225 or to the left ^H8040;

Turn ^H5493 your foot ^H7272 from evil ^H7451.