Proverbs 4

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Hear, O children, a father's instruction, be attentive, that you may gain understanding!	1 Listen, my children, to a father's instruction; pay attention, and learn what understanding is.
2 Yes, excellent advice I give you; my teaching do not forsake.	2 What I am offering you is sound doctrine: do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was my father's child, frail, yet the darling of my mother,	3 I too was once a child with a father, in my mother's eyes a tender child, unique.
4 He taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart hold fast my words: keep my commands, that you may live!	4 This was what he used to teach me, 'Let your heart treasure what I have to say, keep my principles andyou wil live;
5 "Get wisdom, get understanding! Do not forget or turn aside from the words I utter.	5 acquire wisdom, acquire understanding, never forget her, never deviate from my words.
6 Forsake her not, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will safeguard you;	6 Do not desert her, she will keep you safe; love her, she wil watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom; at the cost of all you have, get understanding.	7 The first principle of wisdom is: acquire wisdom; at the cost of all you have, acquire understanding!
8 Extol her, and she will exalt you; she will bring you honors if you embrace her;	8 Hold her close, and she wil make you great; embrace her, and she wil be your pride;
9 She will put on your head a graceful diadem; a glorious crown will she bestow on you."	9 she will provide a graceful garland for your head, bestow a crown of honour on you.'
10 Hear, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life shall be many.	10 Listen, my child, take my words to heart, and the years of your life wil be multiplied.
11 On the way of wisdom I direct you, I lead you on straightforward paths.	11 I have educated you in the ways of wisdom, I have guided you along the path of honesty.
12 When you walk, your step will not be impeded, and should you run, you will not stumble.	12 When you walk, your going wil be unhindered, if you run, you wil not stumble.
13 Hold fast to instruction, never let her go; keep her, for she is your life.	13 Hold fast to discipline, never let her go, keep your eyes on her, she is your life.
14 The path of the wicked enter not, walk not on the way of evil men;	14 Do not fol ow the path of the wicked, do not walk the way that the evil go.
15 Shun it, cross it not, turn aside from it, and pass on.	15 Avoid it, do not take it, turn your back on it, pass it by.
16 For they cannot rest unless they have done evil; to have made no one stumble steals away their sleep.	16 For they cannot sleep unless they have first done wrong, they miss their sleep if they have not madesomeone stumble;
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.	17 for the bread of wickedness is what they eat, and the wine of violence is what they drink.
18 But the path of the just is like shining light, that grows in brilliance till perfect day.	18 The path of the upright is like the light of dawn, its brightness growing to the ful ness of day;
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; they know not on what they stumble.	19 the way of the wicked is as dark as night, they cannot tel the obstacles they stumble over.
20 My son, to my words be attentive, to my sayings incline your ear;	20 My child, pay attention to what I am telling you, listen careful y to my words;
21 Let them not slip out of your sight, keep them within your heart;	21 do not let them out of your sight, keep them deep in your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them, to man's whole being they are health.	22 For they are life to those who find them and health to al humanity.
23 With closest custody, guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life.	23 More than al else, keep watch over your heart, since here are the wel springs of life.
24 Put away from you dishonest talk, deceitful speech put far from you.	24 Turn your back on the mouth that misleads, keep your distance from lips that deceive.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead and your glance be directly forward.	25 Let your eyes be fixed ahead, your gaze be straight before you.
26 Survey the path for your feet, and let all your ways be sure.	26 Let the path you tread be level and al your ways be firm.
27 Turn neither to right nor to left, keep your foot far from evil.	27 Turn neither to right nor to left, keep your foot clear of evil.