Proverbs 4:14-27
New American Standard Bible
14 (A)Do not enter the path of the wicked
And do not proceed in the way of evil people.
15 Avoid it, do not pass by it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they (B)cannot sleep unless they do evil;
And [a]they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 For they (C)eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.
18 But the (D)path of the righteous is like the (E)light of dawn
That (F)shines brighter and brighter until the (G)full day.
19 The (H)way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know over what they [b](I)stumble.
20 My son, (J)pay attention to my words;
(K)Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 (L)They are not to escape from your sight;
(M)Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are (N)life to those who find them,
And (O)healing to all [c]their body.
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For (P)from it flow the springs of life.
24 Rid yourself of a (Q)deceitful mouth
And (R)keep devious [d]speech far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your [e]gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26 (S)[f]Watch the path of your feet,
And all your (T)ways will be established.
27 (U)Do not turn to the right or to the left;
(V)Turn your foot from evil.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:16 Lit their sleep is robbed
- Proverbs 4:19 Or may stumble
- Proverbs 4:22 Lit his
- Proverbs 4:24 Or lips
- Proverbs 4:25 Or eyelids
- Proverbs 4:26 I.e., prob. stay on the path
Proverbs 4:14-27
American Standard Version
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked,
And walk not in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it;
Turn from it, and pass on.
16 For they sleep not, except they do evil;
And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light,
That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness:
They know not at what they stumble.
20 My son, attend to my words;
Incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes;
Keep them in the midst of thy heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them,
And health to all their flesh.
23 Keep thy heart [a]with all diligence;
For out of it are the issues of life.
24 Put away from thee a wayward mouth,
And perverse lips put far from thee.
25 Let thine eyes look right on,
And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 [b]Make level the path of thy feet,
And let all thy ways be [c]established.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left:
Remove thy foot from evil.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:23 Or, above all that thou guardest
- Proverbs 4:26 Or, Weigh carefully
- Proverbs 4:26 Or, ordered aright
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