Proverbs 3:27-4:19
New American Standard Bible
27 (A)Do not withhold good from [a]those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.
28 (B)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it to you,”
When you have it with you.
29 (C)Do not devise harm against your neighbor,
While he lives securely beside you.
30 (D)Do not contend with a person for no reason,
If he has done you no harm.
31 (E)Do not envy a violent person,
And do not choose any of his ways.
32 For the (F)devious are an abomination to the Lord;
But [b]He is (G)intimate with the upright.
33 The (H)curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He (I)blesses the home of the righteous.
34 Though (J)He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet (K)He gives grace to the needy.
35 (L)The wise will inherit honor,
But fools [c]increase dishonor.
A Father’s Instruction
4 Listen, my sons, to the (M)instruction of a father,
And (N)pay attention so that you may [d]gain understanding,
2 For I give you good (O)teaching;
(P)Do not abandon my [e]instruction.
3 When I was a son to my father,
(Q)Tender and (R)the only son in the sight of my mother,
4 He (S)taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart (T)take hold of my words;
(U)Keep my commandments and live;
5 (V)Acquire wisdom! (W)Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not abandon her, and she will guard you;
(X)Love her, and she will watch over you.
7 (Y)The [f]beginning of wisdom is: (Z)Acquire wisdom;
And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.
8 (AA)Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place (AB)on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty.”
10 Listen, my son, and (AC)accept my sayings,
And the (AD)years of your life will be many.
11 I have (AE)instructed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
12 When you walk, your (AF)steps will not be hampered;
And if you run, you (AG)will not stumble.
13 (AH)Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your (AI)life.
14 (AJ)Do not enter the path of the wicked
And do not proceed in the way of evil people.
15 Avoid it, do not pass by it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they (AK)cannot sleep unless they do evil;
And [g]they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 For they (AL)eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.
18 But the (AM)path of the righteous is like the (AN)light of dawn
That (AO)shines brighter and brighter until the (AP)full day.
19 The (AQ)way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know over what they [h](AR)stumble.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:27 Lit its owners
- Proverbs 3:32 Lit His private counsel is
- Proverbs 3:35 Lit raise high
- Proverbs 4:1 Lit know
- Proverbs 4:2 Or law
- Proverbs 4:7 Or primary thing is wisdom
- Proverbs 4:16 Lit their sleep is robbed
- Proverbs 4:19 Or may stumble
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Bible Gateway Recommends
