Proverbs 3:27-4:19

English Standard Version

²⁷^(A)Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,^[a]
when it is in your power to do it.

²⁸^(B)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
    tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
²⁹^(C)Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
    who ^(D)dwells trustingly beside you.
³⁰^(E)Do not contend with a man for no reason,
    when he has done you no harm.
³¹^(F)Do not envy ^(G)a man of violence
    and do not choose any of his ways,
³²for ^(H)the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the upright are ^(I)in his confidence.
³³^(J)The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he ^(K)blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
³⁴Toward the ^(L)scorners he ^(M)is scornful,
    ^(N)but to the humble he gives favor.^[b]
³⁵The wise will inherit honor,
    but fools get^[c] disgrace.

A Father's Wise Instruction

4 ^(O)Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may ^(P)gain^[d] insight,
²for I give you good ^(Q)precepts;
    do not forsake my teaching.
³When I was a son with my father,
    ^(R)tender, ^(S)the only one in the sight of my mother,
⁴he ^(T)taught me and said to me,
^(U)“Let your heart hold fast my words;
    ^(V)keep my commandments, and live.
⁵^(W)Get wisdom; get ^(X)insight;
    do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
⁶Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
    ^(Y)love her, and she will guard you.
⁷^(Z)The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
    and whatever you get, get ^(AA)insight.
⁸Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
    she will ^(AB)honor you ^(AC)if you embrace her.
⁹She will place on your head ^(AD)a graceful garland;
    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

¹⁰^(AE)Hear, ^(AF)my son, and accept my words,
    that ^(AG)the years of your life may be many.
¹¹I have ^(AH)taught you the way of wisdom;
    I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
¹²When you walk, ^(AI)your step will not be hampered,
    and ^(AJ)if you run, you will not stumble.
¹³^(AK)Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
    guard her, for she is your ^(AL)life.
¹⁴^(AM)Do not enter the path of the wicked,
    and do not walk in the way of the evil.
¹⁵Avoid it; do not go on it;
    turn away from it and pass on.
¹⁶For they ^(AN)cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
    they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
¹⁷For they eat the bread of wickedness
    ^(AO)and drink the wine of violence.
¹⁸But ^(AP)the path of the righteous is like ^(AQ)the light of dawn,
    which shines ^(AR)brighter and brighter until ^(AS)full day.
¹⁹^(AT)The way of the wicked is like deep ^(AU)darkness;
    they do not know over what they ^(AV)stumble.