Proverbs 4

1 Listen [hear and obey], my sons [children, descendants], to a father’s [parental, authoritative] instruction [discipline, correction, guidance]; pay attention [listen carefully, give heed] and gain understanding [knowledge, discernment, wisdom]. word study 2 For [because of this reason] I give you [pass on to you, impart] sound [good, reliable, beneficial] teaching [doctrine, instruction, learning]; do not [never, under no circumstances] abandon [forsake, relinquish, loosen] my [given to you, entrusted to you] directive [law, instruction, guidance, Torah]. word study 3 When I was a son [beloved, tender] to my father [parent, guardian], tender [soft, delicate] and the only [unique, solitary] child of my mother [maternal figure, caregiver], word study 4 he taught me [as my father and guide] and said, “Let your heart [the center of your feelings, will, and intellect] lay hold of [grasp, take hold of] my words [instructions, teachings]; keep [obey, guard] my commands [laws, precepts] and you will live [have life, be revived]. word study 5 Get [acquire, obtain] wisdom [skill, prudence, or good judgment], get [purchase, gain] understanding [discernment, knowledge]; do not [refrain from, avoid] forget [be oblivious to, mislay] my words [speech, promises, or commands] or turn [stretch, spread out, morally deflect] from them [the words of my mouth, my teachings]. word study 6 Do not [under no circumstances] forsake [abandon, loosen] wisdom, and she will preserve [keep safe, protect] you; love [have affection for, cherish] her, and she will guard [watch over, keep] you. word study 7 Wisdom [the principal thing, supreme] is supreme; so acquire [get, purchase] wisdom [skill, prudence, or good judgment]. And whatever you may acquire [get, obtain], gain [with all your getting] understanding [discernment, knowledge, or insight]. word study 8 Prize [treasure, highly value] her, and she will exalt [lift up, promote] you; if you [fully, intimately] embrace [cling to, hold tightly] her, she will honor [glorify, bestow dignity upon] you. word study 9 She will set [place, bestow] a garland [wreath, crown] of grace [favor, kindness] on your head [the topmost part of the body]; she will present [deliver, give] you with a crown of beauty [glory, splendor].” word study 10 Listen [hear and obey, give attention], my son [a descendant, a child of God], and receive [take and accept, heed] my words [sayings, teachings, promises], and the years [periods of time, seasons] of your life [physical and spiritual existence, being alive] will be many [multiplied, increased, abundant]. word study 11 I will guide [teach, show] you in the way [path, manner of life] of wisdom [skill, prudence, good judgment]; I will lead [direct, cause to tread] you on straight [right, upright] paths [tracks, circular ramparts]. word study 12 When you walk [to live or go, in a literal or figurative sense], your steps [the path of life, regular stride] will not be impeded [hampered, straitened]; when you run [to rush, move quickly], you will not stumble [lose balance, fall, or falter]. word study 13 Hold on to [spiritual] instruction [discipline, guidance]; do not [under any circumstances] let go [release, abandon]. Guard [watch, protect] it, for [because, since] it is your [eternal, spiritual] life [existence, vitality]. word study 14 Do not [enter into, go along with] set foot on the path [way, road, or journey] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] or walk [follow, proceed] in the way [manner of life, or course of action] of evildoers [those who do evil, or cause harm]. word study 15 Avoid [completely, turn away from] it; do not [by no means, let not] travel on it [cross over, transition into]. Turn [deviate, turn aside] from it [forsake, dismiss] and pass [go on, transition] on by [away, to another path]. word study 16 For they cannot sleep [are restless, except they do evil] unless they do evil [commit wickedness, cause harm]; they are deprived of slumber [their rest is stolen, sleep is taken away] until they make someone fall [stumble, cause to fail, trip someone up]. word study 17 For [as a result of their actions] they eat [consume, feed on] the bread [food, sustenance] of wickedness [immorality, evil deeds] and drink [partake of, indulge in] the wine [intoxicating beverage] of violence [cruelty, injustice, chaotic behavior]. word study 18 The path [way, journey] of the righteous [just, upright] is like the first gleam [dawning light, shining brightness] of dawn, shining [glowing, increasing in radiance] brighter and brighter [more and more, increasingly] until [as far as, up to] midday [the perfect day, full light of day]. word study 19 But the way [road or path, manner of life] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] is like [as, similar to] the darkest gloom [deep darkness, thick shadows]; they do not know [are unaware, cannot discern] what [the thing, the cause] makes them stumble [trip, fall, lose their footing]. word study 20 My [beloved] son [descendant, child of God], pay attention [listen carefully, heed] to my words [sayings, teachings, promises]; incline [stretch, turn] your ear [ability to hear, understanding] to my sayings [words, speeches, commands]. word study 21 Do not [let them depart] lose sight of them; keep [preserve, attend to] them [in the midst of, deep within] within your heart [innermost being, mind and emotions]. word study 22 For [because of this reason] they are life [alive, full of vitality] to those who find [discover, attain] them, and health [healing, wholeness] to the whole [all, entire] body [flesh, physical being]. word study 23 Guard [keep watch over, protect] your heart [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] with all [everything, every aspect] diligence [care, watchfulness], for [because, since] from it [the heart, as the source] flow [come forth, issue] springs [outgoings, boundaries] of life [physical and spiritual existence, being alive]. word study 24 Put away [remove, turn aside] deception [crookedness, falsehood] from your mouth [lips, speech]; keep your lips [language, words] from [far from, free from] perverse [twisted, corrupt] speech [talk, conversation]. word study 25 Let your eyes [the windows of your soul, sources of insight] look forward [straight ahead, to what’s in front of you]; fix your gaze [your attention, your eyelids] straight ahead [before you, in front of you, directly in your path]. word study 26 Make a level [straight, smooth] path for your feet [steps, journey], and all [every aspect of] your ways [roads, manner of life] will be [established, firmly set, confirmed] sure [secure, stable]. word study 27 Do not [in no way, under no circumstances] swerve [turn aside, deviate] to the right [the direction of prosperity, blessing] or to the left [the direction of adversity, curse]; turn [remove, depart from] your feet away from [completely, utterly] evil [bad, morally wrong, wicked]. word study