Proverbs 4

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

Listen, my dear children, to your father's wise guidance, and open your hearts to truly comprehend it.

For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

I'm sharing with you valuable wisdom, please don't ignore my guidance.

For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

I was my dad's cherished child, the apple of my mom's eye.

He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

He lovingly guided me, saying, "Embrace my words in your heart, follow my rules, and truly live."

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

Embrace wisdom, grasp understanding tightly. Never forget it, nor turn away from my spoken truths.

Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

Never abandon her, she'll protect you. Show her love, and she'll safeguard you.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Wisdom is the key; so seek it passionately. And in all your pursuits, strive to comprehend deeply.

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

Cherish her, and she'll uplift you; she'll bestow you with respect when you wholeheartedly accept her.

She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

She will bless you with a beautiful gift of grace, presenting you with a glorious crown.

Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

Listen closely, my child, embrace my words; they will gift you a long and fruitful life.

I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

With love, I've guided you on wisdom's journey, steering you on the road of righteousness.

When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

As you journey, your path will be clear and unobstructed; when you rush, you won't trip or fall.

Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

Grasp tightly onto wisdom; never let it slip away. Cherish it, for it is the essence of your existence.

Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

Avoid the path of the wicked, don't follow the footsteps of evil people.

Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

Steer clear of it, don't even go near, turn around, and keep moving forward.

For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

They can't rest until they've caused trouble; their sleep eludes them unless they've made someone stumble.

For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

They feast on the meal of malice and sip the cocktail of cruelty.

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

The journey of the righteous is like a growing dawn, becoming brighter until the day is perfectly illuminated.

The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

The path of the wrongdoers is shrouded in darkness; they're unaware of what causes their downfall.

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

My child, listen closely to my words; lean in and truly hear what I'm saying.

Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

Never let them out of your sight; hold them close to your heart.

For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Those who discover them will truly live, and their bodies will be healed.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Guard your heart passionately; for it is the source of all life's experiences.

Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Let go of crooked, deceitful talk and keep dishonest words at a distance.

Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

Focus your gaze forward, and keep your sights set straight ahead with determination.

Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

Consider carefully where you step, and make sure all your actions are grounded in certainty.

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Don't be swayed by wrong paths, stay straight on your journey: keep yourself away from wickedness.