LEB PROV Chapter 4

The Father’s Wisdom

4 Children, listen to the instruction of a father,
- and be attentive in order to know insight.
2 For I have given you good instruction;
- do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a son to my father,
- tender and alone before my mother,
4 he taught me and said to me,
- “May your heart hold fast to my words;
- guard my commandments and live.
5 Get wisdom and insight;
- do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her—then she will guard you;
- love her and she will keep you.
7 The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom!
- With all that is in your possession, gain insight.
8 Cherish her and she will exalt you;
- she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will give a garland for your head;
- she shall bestow a crown of glory upon you.”

The Right Path

10 Listen, my child, take my sayings,
- and the years of your life shall be great.
11 In the way of wisdom I have instructed you;
- I have led you in the path of uprightness.
12 When you walk ,[fn] your step will not be hampered,
- and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Seize the instruction! Do not let go!
- Guard her, for she is your life.
14 In the path of the wicked do not go;
- do not walk in the way of those who do evil.
15 Avoid it; do not transgress it;
- turn away from it and pass by.
16 For they will not sleep if they have not done wrong,
- and they are robbed of their sleep if they do not cause stumbling.
17 For they ate the bread of wickedness,
- and they drank the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous ones is like the light of dawn,
- leading and shining until the day is full .[fn]
19 The way of the wicked ones is like deep darkness;
- they do not know what they stumble over.

Staying the Course

20 My child, be attentive to my words;
- to my sayings incline your ear.
21 May they not escape from your sight ;[fn]
- keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them
- and healing to the entire body .[fn]
23 With all vigilance, keep your heart,
- for from it comes the source[fn] of life.
24 Remove from yourself deceitful speech ,[fn]
- and abolish devious talk[fn] from yourself.
25 May your eyes look forward[fn]
- and your gaze be straight before you.
26 May the path of your foot be balanced
- and all your ways be sure.
27 Do not swerve right or left;
- remove your foot from evil.

4:? Literally “In your walking”

4:? Literally “is correct”

4:? Literally “eyes”

4:? Literally “for all his flesh”

4:? Or “extremity”

4:? Literally “crookedness of mouth”

4:? Literally “deviousness of lips”

4:? Or “opposite”