Proverbs 4Proverbs4

King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

1. A Father’s Instruction

2. 1KJVHear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.BSBBSB: Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
3. 2KJVFor I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.BSBBSB: For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
4. 3KJVFor I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.BSBBSB: When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
5. 4KJVHe taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.BSBBSB: he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
6. 5KJVGet wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.BSBBSB: Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
7. 6KJVForsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.BSBBSB: Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
8. 7KJVWisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.BSBBSB: Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
9. 8KJVExalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.BSBBSB: Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
10. 9KJVShe shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.BSBBSB: She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
11. 10KJVHear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.BSBBSB: Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
12. 11KJVI have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.BSBBSB: I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
13. 12KJVWhen thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.BSBBSB: When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
14. 13KJVTake fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.BSBBSB: Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
15. 14KJVEnter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.BSBBSB: Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
16. 15KJVAvoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.BSBBSB: Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
17. 16KJVFor they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.BSBBSB: For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
18. 17KJVFor they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.BSBBSB: For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
19. 18KJVBut the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.BSBBSB: The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
20. 19KJVThe way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.BSBBSB: But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
21. 20KJVMy son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.BSBBSB: My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
22. 21KJVLet them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.BSBBSB: Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
23. 22KJVFor they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.BSBBSB: For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
24. 23KJVKeep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.BSBBSB: Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
25. 24KJVPut away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.BSBBSB: Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
26. 25KJVLet thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.BSBBSB: Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
27. 26KJVPonder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.BSBBSB: Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
28. 27KJVTurn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.BSBBSB: Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.