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Proverbs 3:27-4:19
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Proverbs 3:27-4:19
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it[a] is due,
when it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor
who dwells trustingly beside you.
30 Do not contend with a man for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence
and do not choose any of his ways;
32 for the perverse man is an abomination to the Lord,
but the upright are in his confidence.
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the abode of the righteous.
34 Toward the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he shows favor.
35 The wise will inherit honor,
but fools get[b] disgrace.
Fatherly Advice
4 Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may gain[c] insight;
2 for I give you good precepts:
do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father,
tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he taught me, and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
keep my commandments, and live;
5 do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
Get wisdom; get insight.[d]
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly,[e] and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head a fair garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
Admonition to Keep to the Right Path
10 Hear, my son, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered;
and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Keep hold of instruction, do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of evil men.
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 some one stumble.
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.
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:27 Heb Do not withhold good from its owners
- Proverbs 3:35 Cn: Heb exalt
- Proverbs 4:1 Heb know
- Proverbs 4:5 Reversing the order of the lines
- Proverbs 4:8 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
Proverbs 3:27-4:19
New International Version
Proverbs 3:27-4:19
New International Version
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.(A)
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.(B)
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
when they have done you no harm.
31 Do not envy(C) the violent
or choose any of their ways.
32 For the Lord detests the perverse(D)
but takes the upright into his confidence.(E)
33 The Lord’s curse(F) is on the house of the wicked,(G)
but he blesses the home of the righteous.(H)
34 He mocks(I) proud mockers(J)
but shows favor to the humble(K) and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.
Get Wisdom at Any Cost
4 Listen, my sons,(L) to a father’s instruction;(M)
pay attention and gain understanding.(N)
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold(O) of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.(P)
5 Get wisdom,(Q) get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;(R)
love her, and she will watch over you.(S)
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
Though it cost all(T) you have,[b] get understanding.(U)
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.(V)
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.(W)”
10 Listen, my son,(X) accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.(Y)
11 I instruct(Z) you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.(AA)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.(AB)
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.(AC)
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.(AD)
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;(AE)
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.(AF)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
- Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.