Proverbs 4:1-8 New American Standard Bible
A Father’s Instruction
4 Listen, my sons, to the (A)instruction of a father,
And (B)pay attention so that you may [a]gain understanding,
2 For I give you good (C)teaching;
(D)Do not abandon my [b]instruction.
3 When I was a son to my father,
(E)Tender and (F)the only son in the sight of my mother,
4 He (G)taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart (H)take hold of my words;
(I)Keep my commandments and live;
5 (J)Acquire wisdom! (K)Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not abandon her, and she will guard you;
(L)Love her, and she will watch over you.
7 (M)The [c]beginning of wisdom is: (N)Acquire wisdom;
And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.
8 (O)Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:1 Lit know
- Proverbs 4:2 Or law
- Proverbs 4:7 Or primary thing is wisdom
Cross references
- Proverbs 4:1 : Ps 34:11; Prov 1:8
- Proverbs 4:1 : Prov 1:2; 2:2
- Proverbs 4:2 : Deut 32:2; Job 11:4
- Proverbs 4:2 : Ps 89:30; 119:87; Prov 3:1
- Proverbs 4:3 : 1 Chr 22:5; 29:1
- Proverbs 4:3 : Zech 12:10
- Proverbs 4:4 : Eph 6:4
- Proverbs 4:4 : Ps 119:168
- Proverbs 4:4 : Prov 7:2
- Proverbs 4:5 : Prov 4:7
- Proverbs 4:5 : Prov 16:16
- Proverbs 4:6 : 2 Thess 2:10
- Proverbs 4:7 : Prov 8:23
- Proverbs 4:7 : Prov 23:23
- Proverbs 4:8 : 1 Sam 2:30
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
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