KJ3 Literal Translation
Proverbs 4
Keep your heart with all diligence.
1Sons, hear the instruction of a father, pay attention to know understanding.
2For I give you good teaching, do not forsake my Law.
3For I was my father's son, tender and an only one in the sight of my mother.
4And he taught me and said to me, May my words hold to your heart; keep my commands and live.
5Obtain wisdom, and with all your obtaining, obtain understanding; do not stretch out, and do not stretch away from the words of my mouth.
6Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you.
7The first thing is wisdom; obtain wisdom, and with all your obtaining, obtain understanding.
8Exalt her, and she will lift you up; she shall bring you to honor when you embrace her.
9She shall give a wreath of grace to your head; she shall shield you with a crown of glory.
10Oh my son, hear and receive my sayings, and the years of your life shall be many.
11I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have made you walk in the right tracks;
12when you go, your tracks shall not be narrowed, and if you run, you shall not stumble.
13Take fast hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her, for she is your life.
14Do not enter into the path of the wicked ones, and do not go straight in the way of evil ones
15Avoid it, do not pass by it; turn from it and pass on.
16For they do not sleep if they have done no evil, and their sleep is taken away if not they cause some to stumble.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the righteous ones is as a light of brightness going on and shining till the day is established.
19The way of the wicked ones is as darkness; they do not know at what they stumble.
20My son, pay attention to my words; stretch your ear to what I say;
21let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the center of your heart;
22for they are life to those who find them, and healing to all his flesh.
23Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.
24Turn away from you the crooked mouth, and put devious lips far from you.
25Let your eyes look straight to the front, and let your eyelids look straight before you.
26Ponder the track of your feet, then all your ways will be established.
27Do not stretch to the right or to the left; turn your foot aside from evil.
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