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
Holman Christian Standard Bible
14 Don’t set foot on the path of the wicked;(A)
don’t proceed in the way of evil ones.
15 Avoid it; don’t travel on it.
Turn away from it, and pass it by.
16 For they can’t sleep
unless they have done what is evil;
they are robbed of sleep
unless they make someone stumble.(B)
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,(C)
shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;(D)
they don’t know what makes them stumble.(E)
The Straight Path
20 My son, pay attention to my words;
listen closely to my sayings.(F)
21 Don’t lose sight of them;(G)
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else,[a]
for it is the source of life.(H)
24 Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly,(I)
and don’t let your lips talk deviously.
25 Let your eyes look forward;
fix your gaze[b] straight ahead.(J)
26 Carefully consider the path[c] for your feet,(K)
and all your ways will be established.
27 Don’t turn to the right or to the left;(L)
keep your feet away from evil.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:23 Or heart with all diligence
- Proverbs 4:25 Lit eyelids
- Proverbs 4:26 Or Clear a path
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