Proverbs Chapter 4
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
yea, every good path.
2
For wisdom shall enter into thy heart,
3
And knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul;
4
Discretion shall watch over thee;
5
Understanding shall keep thee:
6
To deliver thee from the way of evil,
7
From the men that speak perverse things;
8
Who forsake the paths of uprightness,
9
To walk in the ways of darkness;
10
Who rejoice to do evil,
11
And delight in the perverseness of evil;
12
Who are crooked in their ways,
13
And wayward in their paths:
14
To deliver thee from the strange woman,
15
Even from the foreigner that flattereth with her words;
16
That forsaketh the friend of her youth,
17
And forgetteth the covenant of her God:
18
For her house inclineth unto death,
19
And her paths unto the dead;
20
None that go unto her return again,
21
Neither do they attain unto the paths of life:
22
That thou mayest walk in the way of good men,
23
And keep the paths of the righteous.
24
For the upright shall dwell in the land,
25
And the perfect shall remain in it.
26
But the wicked shall be cut off from the land,
27
And the treacherous shall be rooted out of it.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know intelligence;
2
for I give you good doctrine: forsake ye not my law.
3
For I was a son unto my father, tender and an only one in the sight of my mother.
4
And he taught me, and said unto me, Let thy heart retain my words; keep my commandments and live.
5
Get wisdom, get intelligence: forget [it] not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6
Forsake her not, and she shall keep thee; love her, and she shall preserve thee.
7
The beginning of wisdom [is], Get wisdom; and with all thy getting get intelligence.
8
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her.
9
She shall give to thy head a garland of grace; a crown of glory will she bestow upon thee.
10
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of thy life shall be multiplied.
11
I will teach thee in the way of wisdom, I will lead thee in paths of uprightness.
12
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13
Take fast hold of instruction, let [her] not go: keep her, for she is thy life.
14
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil [men]:
15
avoid it, pass not by it; turn from it, and pass away.
16
For they sleep not except they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken away unless they have caused [some] to fall.
17
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18
But the path of the righteous is as the shining light, going on and brightening until the day be fully come.
19
The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
20
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thy heart.
22
For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23
Keep thy heart more than anything that is guarded; for out of it are the issues of life.
24
Put away from thee perverseness of mouth, and corrupt lips put far from thee.
25
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be well-ordered.
27
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from evil.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2
For I give you a good gift; forsake ye not my law.
3
For I also was a son obedient to [my] father, and loved in the sight of [my] mother:
4
who spoke and instructed me, [saying], Let our speech be fixed in thine heart, keep [our] commandments, forget them not:
5
and do not neglect the speech of my mouth.
6
And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to thee: love it, and it shall keep thee.
8
Secure it, and it shall exalt thee: honour it, that it may embrace thee;
9
that it may give unto thy head a crown of graces, and may cover thee with a crown of delight.
10
Hear, [my] son, and receive my words; and the years of thy life shall be increased, that the resources of thy life may be many.
11
For I teach thee the ways of wisdom; and I cause thee to go in right paths.
12
For when thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not be distressed.
13
Take hold of my instruction; let it not go,—but keep it for thyself for thy life.
14
Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors.
15
In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not thither; but turn from them, and pass away.
16
For they cannot sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not.
17
For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.
18
But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day be fully come.
19
But the ways of the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble.
20
[My] son, attend to my speech; and apply thine ear to my words:
21
that thy fountains may not fail thee; keep them in [thine] heart.
22
For they are life to those that find them, and health to all [their] flesh.
23
Keep thine heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.
24
Remove from thee a froward mouth, and put far away from thee unjust lips.
25
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids assent [to] just [things].
26
Make straight paths for thy feet, and order thy ways aright.
27
Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away thy foot from an evil way:
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Audite filii disciplinam patris, et attendite ut sciatis prudentiam.
2
Donum bonum tribuam vobis, legem meam ne derelinquatis.
3
Nam et ego filius fui patris mei, tenellus, et unigenitus coram matre mea:
4
et docebat me, atque dicebat: Suscipiat verba mea cor tuum, custodi præcepta mea, et vives.
5
Posside sapientiam, posside prudentiam: ne obliviscaris, neque declines a verbis oris mei.
6
Ne dimittas eam, et custodiet te: dilige eam, et conservabit te.
7
Principium sapientiæ, posside sapientiam, et in omni possessione tua acquire prudentiam:
8
arripe illam, et exaltabit te: glorificaberis ab ea, cum eam fueris amplexatus.
9
dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum, et corona inclyta proteget te.
10
Audi fili mi, et suscipe verba mea, ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitæ.
11
Viam sapientiæ monstrabo tibi, ducam te per semitas æquitatis:
12
quas cum ingressus fueris, non arctabuntur gressus tui, et currens non habebis offendiculum.
13
Tene disciplinam, ne dimittas eam: custodi illam, quia ipsa est vita tua.
14
Ne delecteris in semitis impiorum, nec tibi placeat malorum via.
15
Fuge ab ea, nec transeas per illam: declina, et desere eam.
16
non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint: et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi supplantaverint.
17
comedunt panem impietatis, et vinum iniquitatis bibunt.
18
Iustorum autem semita quasi lux splendens, procedit et crescit usque ad perfectam diem.
19
Via impiorum tenebrosa: nesciunt ubi corruant.
20
Fili mi, ausculta sermones meos, et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam.
21
ne recedant ab oculis tuis, custodi ea in medio cordis tui:
22
vita enim sunt invenientibus ea, et universæ carni sanitas.
23
Omni custodia serva cor tuum, quia ex ipso vita procedit.
24
Remove a te os pravum, et detrahentia labia sint procul a te.
25
Oculi tui recta videant, et palpebræ tuæ præcedant gressus tuos.
26
Dirige semitam pedibus tuis, et omnes viæ tuæ stabilientur.
27
Ne declines ad dexteram, neque ad sinistram: averte pedem tuum a malo. vias enim, quæ a dextris sunt, novit Dominus: perversæ vero sunt quæ a sinistris sunt. Ipse autem rectos faciet cursus tuos, itinera autem tua in pace producet.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2
for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
3
For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
4
He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5
Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
6
Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7
Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8
Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
9
She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
10
Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11
I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12
When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13
Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14
Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
15
Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16
For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
17
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18
But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
19
The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
20
My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21
Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.
22
For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
23
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24
Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25
Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26
Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27
Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2
For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
3
For, a son I have been to my father--tender, And an only one before my mother.
4
And he directeth me, and he saith to me: `Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5
Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6
Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
7
The first thing <FI>is<Fi> wisdom--get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
8
Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
9
She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
10
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life <FI>are<Fi> multiplied to thee.
11
In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
12
In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
13
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she <FI>is<Fi> thy life.
14
Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
15
Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16
For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not <FI>some<Fi> to stumble.
17
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
18
And the path of the righteous <FI>is<Fi> as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
19
The way of the wicked <FI>is<Fi> as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20
My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
21
Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
22
For life they <FI>are<Fi> to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
23
Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it <FI>are<Fi> the outgoings of life.
24
Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
25
Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26
Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways <FI>are<Fi> established.
27
Incline not <FI>to<Fi> the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).