Proverbs 4:14-27
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of evildoers.(A)
15 Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.(B)
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.(C)
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what they stumble over.(D)
20 My child, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.(E)
22 For they are life to those who find them
and healing to all their flesh.(F)
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.(G)
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.(H)
25 Let your eyes look directly forward
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Keep straight the path of your feet,
and all your ways will be sure.(I)
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.(J)
Proverbs 4:14-27
Lexham English Bible
14 In the path of the wicked do not go;
do not walk in the way of those who do evil.
15 Avoid it; do not transgress it;
turn away from it and pass by.
16 For they will not sleep if they have not done wrong,
and they are robbed of their sleep if they do not cause stumbling.
17 For they ate the bread of wickedness,
and they drank the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous ones is like the light of dawn,
leading and shining until the day is full.[a]
19 The way of the wicked ones is like deep darkness;
they do not know what they stumble over.
Staying the Course
20 My child, be attentive to my words;
to my sayings incline your ear.
21 May they not escape from your sight;[b]
keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them
and healing to the entire body.[c]
23 With all vigilance, keep your heart,
for from it comes the source[d] of life.
24 Remove from yourself deceitful speech,[e]
and abolish devious talk[f] from yourself.
25 May your eyes look forward[g]
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 May the path of your foot be balanced
and all your ways be sure.
27 Do not swerve right or left;
remove your foot from evil.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:18 Literally “is correct”
- Proverbs 4:21 Literally “eyes”
- Proverbs 4:22 Literally “for all his flesh”
- Proverbs 4:23 Or “extremity”
- Proverbs 4:24 Literally “crookedness of mouth”
- Proverbs 4:24 Literally “deviousness of lips”
- Proverbs 4:25 Or “opposite”
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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