Proverbs 4
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
4 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend that you may know prudence.
2 I will give you a good gift, forsake not my law.
3 For I also was my father's son, tender and as an only son in the sight of my mother:
4 And he taught me, and said: Let thy heart receive my words, keep my commandments, and thou shalt live.
5 Get wisdom, get prudence: forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall keep thee: love her, and she shall preserve thee.
7 The beginning of wisdom, get wisdom, and with all thy possession purchase prudence.
8 Take hold on her, and she shall exalt thee: thou shalt be glorified by her, when thou shalt embrace her.
9 She shall give to thy head increase of graces, and protect thee with a noble crown.
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my words, that years of life may be multiplied to thee.
11 I will shew thee the way of wisdom, I will lead thee by the paths of equity:
12 Which when thou shalt have entered, thy steps shall not be straitened, and when thou runnest thou shalt not meet a stumblingblock.
13 Take hold on instruction, leave it not: keep it, because it is thy life.
14 Be not delighted in the paths of the wicked, neither let the way of evil men please thee.
15 Flee from it, pass not by it: go aside, and forsake it.
16 For they sleep not except they have done evil: and their sleep is taken away unless they have made some to fall.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of iniquity.
18 But the path of the just, as a shining light, goeth forwards and increaseth even to perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is darksome: they know not where they fall.
20 My son, hearken to my words, and incline thy ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thy eyes, keep them in the midst of thy heart:
22 For they are life to those that find them, and health to all flesh.
23 With all watchfulness keep thy heart, because life issueth out from it.
24 Remove from thee a froward mouth, and let detracting lips be far from thee.
25 Let thy eyes look straight on, and let thy eyelids go before thy steps.
26 Make straight the path for thy feet, and all thy ways shall be established.
27 Decline not to the right hand, nor to the left: turn away thy foot from evil. For the Lord knoweth the ways that are on the right hand: but those are perverse which are on the left hand. But he will make thy courses straight, he will bring forward thy ways in peace.
Proverbs 4
Contemporary English Version
Advice to Young People
4 My child, listen closely
to my teachings
and learn common sense.
2 My advice is useful,
so don't turn away.
3 When I was still very young
and my mother's favorite child,
my father 4 said to me:
“If you follow my teachings
and keep them in mind,
you will live.
5 Be wise and learn good sense;
remember my teachings
and do what I say.
6 “If you love Wisdom
and don't reject her,
she will watch over you.
7 The best thing about Wisdom
is Wisdom herself;
good sense is more important
than anything else.
8 If you value Wisdom
and hold tightly to her,
great honors will be yours.
9 It will be like wearing
a glorious crown
of beautiful flowers.”
The Right Way and the Wrong Way
10 My child, if you listen
and obey my teachings,
you will live a long time.
11 I have shown you the way
that makes sense;
I have guided you
along the right path.
12 Your road won't be blocked,
and you won't stumble
when you run.
13 Hold firmly to my teaching
and never let go.
It will mean life for you.
14 Don't follow the bad example
of cruel and evil people.
15 Turn aside and keep going.
Stay away from them.
16 They can't sleep or rest
until they do wrong or harm
some innocent victim.
17 Their food and drink
are cruelty and wickedness.
18 The lifestyle of good people
is like sunlight at dawn
that keeps getting brighter
until broad daylight.
19 The lifestyle of the wicked
is like total darkness,
and they will never know
what makes them stumble.
20 My child, listen carefully
to everything I say.
21 Don't forget a single word,
but think about it all.
22 Knowing these teachings
will mean true life
and good health for you.
23 Carefully guard your thoughts
because they are the source
of true life.
24 Never tell lies or be deceitful
in what you say.
25 Keep looking straight ahead,
without turning aside.
26 (A) Know where you are headed,
and you will stay
on solid ground.
27 Don't make a mistake by turning
to the right or the left.
箴言 4
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
持定训诲、不偏左右
4 孩子们，要听父亲的教训，
留心学习哲理；
2 因为我授予你们的，是美好的学问，
我的训诲，你们不可离弃。
3 我在我父亲面前还是小孩子，
在我母亲面前是独一的娇儿的时候，
4 父亲教导我，对我说：
“你的心要持守我的话，
你要遵守我的诫命，就可以存活；
5 要求取智慧和哲理，
不可忘记，也不可偏离我口中的话。
6 不可离弃智慧，智慧就必护卫你；
喜爱智慧，智慧就必看顾你。
7 智慧的开端（“智慧的开端”或译：“智慧是首要的”）是求取智慧，
要用你所得的一切换取哲理。
8 你要高举智慧，智慧就必使你高升；
你要怀抱智慧，智慧就必使你得尊荣。
9 智慧必把华冠加在你头上，
把荣冕赐给你。”
10 我儿，你要听，并要接受我所说的，
这样，你就必延年益寿。
11 我指教你走智慧的道，
引导你行正直的路。
12 你行走的时候，脚步必不会受阻碍；
你奔跑的时候，也不会跌倒。
13 你要坚守教训，不可放松；
要谨守教训，因为那是你的生命。
14 不可走进恶人的路径，
不可踏上坏人的道路。
15 要躲避，不可从那里经过，
要转身离去。
16 因为他们不行恶，就不能入睡；
不使人跌倒，就要失眠。
17 他们吃的，是奸恶的饭；
他们喝的，是强暴的酒。
18 义人的路径却像黎明的曙光，
越来越明亮，直到日午。
19 恶人的道路幽暗，
他们不知道自己因甚么跌倒。
20 我儿，要留心听我的话，
侧耳听我所说的。
21 不可让它们离开你的眼目，
要谨记在你的心中。
22 因为得着它们就是得着生命，
整个人也得着医治。
23 你要谨守你的心，胜过谨守一切，
因为生命的泉源由此而出。
24 你要除掉欺诈的口，
远离乖谬的嘴唇。
25 你双眼要向前正视，
你的眼睛要向前直望。
26 你要谨慎你脚下的路径，
你一切所行的就必稳妥。
27 不可偏左偏右，
要使你的脚远离恶事。
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Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.