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Proverbs 4:1-9
Modern English Version
Proverbs 4:1-9
Modern English Version
Wisdom Is Supreme
4 Hear, O children, the instruction of a father,
and attend to know understanding.
2 For I give you good precepts;
do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I was my father’s son,
tender and the only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4 He also taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart retain my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget it, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
love her, and she will keep you.
7 Wisdom is principal; therefore get wisdom.
And with all your getting, get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she will promote you;
she will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head an ornament of grace;
a crown of glory she will deliver to you.”
Proverbs 4:1-9
21st Century King James Version
Proverbs 4:1-9
21st Century King James Version
4 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and be attentive to know understanding.
2 For I give you good doctrine; forsake ye not my law.
3 For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4 He taught me also and said unto me, “Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments and live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; forget it not, neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee; love her, and she shall keep thee.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting, get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee honor when thou dost embrace her.
9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.”
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Proverbs 4:1-9
New International Version
Proverbs 4:1-9
New International Version
Get Wisdom at Any Cost
4 Listen, my sons,(A) to a father’s instruction;(B)
pay attention and gain understanding.(C)
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(D) of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.(E)
5 Get wisdom,(F) get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;(G)
love her, and she will watch over you.(H)
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
Though it cost all(I) you have,[b] get understanding.(J)
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.(K)
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.(L)”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
- Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get
Modern English Version (MEV)
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.