Proverbs 4

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.	1 Hear, O children, a father's instruction, be attentive, that you may gain understanding!
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.	2 Yes, excellent advice I give you; my teaching do not forsake.
3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.	3 When I was my father's child, frail, yet the darling of my mother,
4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.	4 He taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart hold fast my words: keep my commands, that you may live!
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.	5 "Get wisdom, get understanding! Do not forget or turn aside from the words I utter.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.	6 Forsake her not, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will safeguard you;
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.	7 The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom; at the cost of all you have, get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.	8 Extol her, and she will exalt you; she will bring you honors if you embrace her;
9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.	9 She will put on your head a graceful diadem; a glorious crown will she bestow on you."
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.	10 Hear, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life shall be many.
11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.	11 On the way of wisdom I direct you, I lead you on straightforward paths.
12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.	12 When you walk, your step will not be impeded, and should you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.	13 Hold fast to instruction, never let her go; keep her, for she is your life.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.	14 The path of the wicked enter not, walk not on the way of evil men;
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.	15 Shun it, cross it not, turn aside from it, and pass on.
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.	16 For they cannot rest unless they have done evil; to have made no one stumble steals away their sleep.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.	17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.	18 But the path of the just is like shining light, that grows in brilliance till perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.	19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; they know not on what they stumble.
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.	20 My son, to my words be attentive, to my sayings incline your ear;
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.	21 Let them not slip out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.	22 For they are life to those who find them, to man's whole being they are health.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.	23 With closest custody, guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.	24 Put away from you dishonest talk, deceitful speech put far from you.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.	25 Let your eyes look straight ahead and your glance be directly forward.
26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.	26 Survey the path for your feet, and let all your ways be sure.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.	27 Turn neither to right nor to left, keep your foot far from evil.