Proverbs 3:19-4:27

New International Version

¹⁹By wisdom^(A) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,^(B)
by understanding he set the heavens^(C) in place;
²⁰by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.

²¹My son,^(D) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,^(E)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
²²they will be life for you,^(F)
    an ornament to grace your neck.^(G)
²³Then you will go on your way in safety,^(H)
    and your foot will not stumble.^(I)
²⁴When you lie down,^(J) you will not be afraid;^(K)
    when you lie down, your sleep^(L) will be sweet.
²⁵Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
²⁶for the Lord will be at your side^(M)
    and will keep your foot^(N) from being snared.^(O)

²⁷Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to act.
²⁸Do not say to your neighbor,
    “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
    when you already have it with you.^(P)
²⁹Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
    who lives trustfully near you.^(Q)
³⁰Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
    when they have done you no harm.

³¹Do not envy^(R) the violent
or choose any of their ways.

³²For the Lord detests the perverse^(S)
    but takes the upright into his confidence.^(T)
³³The Lord’s curse^(U) is on the house of the wicked,^(V)
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.^(W)
³⁴He mocks^(X) proud mockers^(Y)
    but shows favor to the humble^(Z) and oppressed.
³⁵The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

4 Listen, my sons,^(AA) to a father’s instruction;^(AB)
    pay attention and gain understanding.^(AC)
²I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
³For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
⁴Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold^(AD) of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.^(AE)
⁵Get wisdom,^(AF) get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
⁶Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;^(AG)
    love her, and she will watch over you.^(AH)
⁷The beginning of wisdom is this: Get^[a] wisdom.
    Though it cost all^(AI) you have,^[b] get understanding.^(AJ)
⁸Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.^(AK)
⁹She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.^(AL)”

¹⁰Listen, my son,^(AM) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.^(AN)
¹¹I instruct^(AO) you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.^(AP)
¹²When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.^(AQ)
¹³Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.^(AR)
¹⁴Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.^(AS)
¹⁵Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
¹⁶For they cannot rest until they do evil;^(AT)
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
¹⁷They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.^(AU)

¹⁸The path of the righteous^(AV) is like the morning sun,^(AW)
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.^(AX)
¹⁹But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;^(AY)
they do not know what makes them stumble.^(AZ)

²⁰My son,^(BA) pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.^(BB)
²¹Do not let them out of your sight,^(BC)
    keep them within your heart;
²²for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.^(BD)
²³Above all else, guard^(BE) your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.^(BF)
²⁴Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
²⁵Let your eyes^(BG) look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
²⁶Give careful thought to the^[c] paths for your feet^(BH)
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
²⁷Do not turn to the right or the left;^(BI)
    keep your foot from evil.