| 1 | Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, and pay attention in order to gain
and
to know intelligent discernment, comprehension,
and
interpretation [of spiritual matters]. |
| 2 | For I give you good doctrine [what is to be received]; do not forsake my teaching. |
| 3 | When I [Solomon] was a son with my father [David], tender and the only son in the sight of my mother [Bathsheba], |
| 4 | He taught me and said to me, Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live. |
| 5 | Get skillful
and
godly Wisdom, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation); do not forget and do not turn back from the words of my mouth. |
| 6 | Forsake not [Wisdom], and she will keep, defend,
and
protect you; love her, and she will guard you. |
| 7 | The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful
and
godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation). |
| 8 | Prize Wisdom highly
and
exalt her, and she will exalt
and
promote you; she will bring you to honor when you embrace her. |
| 9 | She shall give to your head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty
and
glory will she deliver to you. |
| 10 | Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life shall be many. |
| 11 | I have taught you in the way of skillful
and
godly Wisdom [which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God]; I have led you in paths of uprightness. |
| 12 | When you walk, your steps shall not be hampered [your path will be clear and open]; and when you run, you shall not stumble. |
| 13 | Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. |
| 14 | Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. |
| 15 | Avoid it, do not go on it; turn from it and pass on. |
| 16 | For they cannot sleep unless they have caused trouble
or
vexation; their sleep is taken away unless they have caused someone to fall. |
| 17 | For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. |
| 18 | But the path of the [uncompromisingly] just
and
righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines more and more (brighter and clearer) until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day [to be prepared]. |
| 19 | The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. |
| 20 | My son, attend to my words; consent
and
submit to my sayings. |
| 21 | Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. |
| 22 | For they are life to those who find them, healing
and
health to all their flesh. |
| 23 | Keep
and
guard your heart with all vigilance
and
above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. |
| 24 | Put away from you false
and
dishonest speech, and willful
and
contrary talk put far from you. |
| 25 | Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you. |
| 26 | Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established
and
ordered aright. |
| 27 | Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil. |
Cross references:
-
Proverbs 4:4 : I Chron. 28:9; Eph. 6:4.
-
Proverbs 4:7 : James 1:5.
-
Proverbs 4:18 : II Sam. 23:4; Matt. 5:14; Phil. 2:15.
-
Proverbs 4:19 : John 12:35.
|