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Proverbs 4
1599 Geneva Bible
Proverbs 4
1599 Geneva Bible
4 1 Wisdom and her fruits ought to be searched. 14 The way of the wicked must be refused. 20 By the word of God the heart, eyes, and course of life must be guided.
1 Hear, O ye children, the instruction of a [a]father, and give ear to learn understanding.
2 For I do give you a good doctrine: therefore forsake ye not my law.
3 For I was my father’s son, tender and dear in the sight of my mother,
4 When he [b]taught me, and said unto me, Let thine heart hold fast my words: keep my commandments, and thou shalt live.
5 Get wisdom: get understanding: forget 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 [c]Wisdom is the beginning: get wisdom therefore: and above all thy possession get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall exalt thee: she shall bring thee to honor, if thou embrace her.
9 She shall give a comely ornament unto thine head, yea, she shall give thee a crown of glory.
10 ¶ Hear, my son: and receive my words, and the years of thy life shall be many.
11 I have [d]taught thee in the way of wisdom, and led thee in the paths of righteousness.
12 When thou goest, thy gait shall not be [e]strait, and when thou runnest, thou shalt not fall.
13 Take hold of instruction, and leave not: keep her, for she is thy life.
14 ¶ Enter not into the way of the wicked, and walk not in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, and go not by it: turn from it, and pass by.
16 For they cannot [f]sleep, except they have done evil, and their sleep departeth except they cause some to fall.
17 For they eat the bread of [g]wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the way of the righteous shineth as the light, that [h]shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as the darkness: they know not wherein they shall fall.
20 ¶ My son, hearken unto my words, incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes, but keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them: and health unto all their [i]flesh.
23 Keep thine heart with all diligence: for thereout cometh [j]life.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and put wicked lips far from thee.
25 Let thine eyes behold the right, and let thine eyelids direct thy way before thee.
26 [k]Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be ordered aright.
27 Turn not to the right hand, nor to the left, but remove thy foot from evil.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:1 He speaketh this in the person of a Preacher and Minister, which is as a father unto the people, read Prov. 2:8.
- Proverbs 4:4 Meaning, David his father.
- Proverbs 4:7 He showeth that we must first begin at God’s word, if so be we will that other things prosper with us, contrary to the judgment of the world, which make it their last study, or else care not for it at all.
- Proverbs 4:11 Solomon declareth what care his father had to bring him up in the true fear of God: for this was David’s protestation.
- Proverbs 4:12 Thou shalt walk at liberty without offence.
- Proverbs 4:16 Meaning, that to do evil is more proper and natural to the wicked than to sleep, eat or drink.
- Proverbs 4:17 Gotten by wicked means and cruel oppression.
- Proverbs 4:18 Signifying, that the godly increase daily in knowledge and perfection, till they come to full perfection, which is when they shall be joined to their head in the heavens.
- Proverbs 4:22 That is, they shall have health of body: under the which all other blessings promised in the law are contained.
- Proverbs 4:23 For as the heart is either pure or corrupt, so is the whole course of man’s life.
- Proverbs 4:26 Keep a measure in all thy doings.
Proverbs 4
New International Version
Proverbs 4
New International Version
Get Wisdom at Any Cost
4 Listen, my sons,(A) to a father’s instruction;(B)
pay attention and gain understanding.(C)
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold(D) of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.(E)
5 Get wisdom,(F) get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;(G)
love her, and she will watch over you.(H)
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
Though it cost all(I) you have,[b] get understanding.(J)
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.(K)
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.(L)”
10 Listen, my son,(M) accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.(N)
11 I instruct(O) you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.(P)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.(Q)
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.(R)
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.(S)
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;(T)
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.(U)
18 The path of the righteous(V) is like the morning sun,(W)
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.(X)
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;(Y)
they do not know what makes them stumble.(Z)
20 My son,(AA) pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.(AB)
21 Do not let them out of your sight,(AC)
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.(AD)
23 Above all else, guard(AE) your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.(AF)
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes(AG) look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet(AH)
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;(AI)
keep your foot from evil.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
- Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get
- Proverbs 4:26 Or Make level
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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