The Word Am I

The Proverbs

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 4 -

An admonition of a father to his son. Acquiring wisdom

1
Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction, and pay attention so you will know what understanding is.
2
I am giving you good instructions; do not forsake my teaching.
3
When I was a son of my father, the tender and only child of my mother,
4
he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast to my words; keep my commands and live.
5
Acquire wisdom and understanding; do not forget and do not reject the words of my mouth;
6
do not abandon wisdom and she will watch over you; love her and she will keep you safe.
7
Wisdom is the most important thing, so acquire wisdom and spend all you own so you can get understanding.
8
Cherish wisdom and she will exalt you; she will honor you when you embrace her.
9
She will put a wreath of honor on your head; she will give you a beautiful crown.”

The way of the wise and the way of the unrighteous

10
Listen, my son, and pay attention to my words, and you will have many years in your life.
11
I direct you in the way of wisdom; I lead you down straight paths.
12
When you walk, no one will stand in your way and if you run, you will not stumble.
13
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it, for it is your life.
14
Do not follow the path of the wicked and do not go along the way of those who do evil.
15
Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it and go another way.
16
For they cannot sleep until they do evil and they are robbed of sleep until they cause someone to stumble.
17
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18
But the path of righteous people is like the first light that grows brighter; it shines more and more until the fullness of the day comes.
19
The way of the wicked is like darkness-they do not know what it is they stumble over.

A father's admonition

20
My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21
Do not let them turn away from your eyes; keep them in your heart.
22
For my words are life to those who find them and health to their whole body.
23
Keep your heart safe and guard it with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.
24
Put crooked speech away from you and put corrupt talk far from you.
25
Let your eyes look straight ahead and fix your gaze straight before you.
26
Make a level path for your foot; then all your ways will be secure.
27
Do not turn aside to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
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An admonition of a father to his son. Acquiring wisdom

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.”

The way of the wise and the way of the unrighteous

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.

A father's admonition

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.
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