Proverbs 4
Expanded Bible
Wisdom Is Important
4 My ·children [L sons], listen to your father’s ·teaching [discipline; instruction];
pay attention ·so you will understand [L to the knowledge of understanding].
2 ·What I am telling you is good [L I will give you good teaching],
so do not ·forget [L abandon; forsake] ·what I teach you [L my instruction].
3 When I was a ·young boy in my father’s house [L son to my father]
·and like an only child to [L tender, and the only one of] my mother,
4 my father taught me and said,
“Hold on to my words with all your heart.
·Keep [Guard] my commands and you will live.
5 ·Get [Acquire] wisdom and ·get [acquire] understanding.
Don’t forget or ·ignore [turn away from] ·my words [L the speeches of my mouth].
6 ·Hold on to wisdom [L Don’t abandon her; C Wisdom is here personified as a woman; 1:20–33; 8:1—9:6], and it [or she] will ·take care of [guard] you.
Love ·it [or her], and ·it [or she] will ·keep you safe [protect you].
7 ·Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom [L The beginning of wisdom is: Get/Acquire wisdom].
·If it costs everything you have [L Above all your acquisitions], ·get [acquire] understanding.
8 ·Treasure wisdom [Highly esteem her], and ·it [or she] will ·make you great [exalt you];
·hold on to it [or embrace her], and ·it [or she] will bring you honor.
9 ·It will be like flowers in your hair [L She will place on your head a graceful garland;]
·and like a beautiful crown on your head [she will bestow on you a crown of glory].”
10 My ·child [L son], listen and ·accept what I say [L take in my speech].
Then ·you will have a long life [L your years will be multiplied].
11 I am ·guiding [L teaching] you in the way of wisdom,
and I am leading you on the ·right [or straight] path.
12 ·Nothing will hold you back [L When you walk, your step will not be hindered];
·you will not be overwhelmed [L when you run, you will not stumble].
13 ·Always remember what you have been taught [L Be determined/resolute in our instruction],
and don’t ·let go of it [slack off].
·Keep all that you have learned [L Protect it];
it is ·the most important thing in [L your] life.
14 Don’t ·follow the ways [go in the way] of the wicked;
don’t ·do what evil people do [L walk straight on to the path of evil people].
15 Avoid their ways, and don’t ·follow [cross over to] them.
Stay away from them and keep on going,
16 because they cannot sleep until they do evil.
·They cannot rest until they harm someone [L They are robbed of sleep unless they cause people to stumble].
17 They feast on wickedness as if they were eating bread.
They drink violence as if they were drinking wine.
18 The way of the ·good [righteous] person is like the ·light of dawn [L shining light],
growing brighter and brighter until full daylight.
19 But the ·wicked walk around in the dark [L path of the wicked is like deep darkness];
they ·can’t even see what makes them [L don’t know where they will] stumble.
20 My ·child [L son], pay attention to my words;
·listen closely to what I say [L bend your ear to my speech].
21 Don’t ·ever forget my words [L let your eyes slip];
·keep them always in mind [L guard them in your heart].
22 They are ·the key to life [L life] for those who find them;
they bring health to the whole body.
23 ·Be careful what you think [L Above all that you guard, protect your heart],
because ·your thoughts run your life [L life flows from it].
24 ·Don’t use your mouth to tell lies [L Have nothing to do with a perverse mouth];
·don’t ever say things that are not true [L keep loose lips far from you].
25 Keep your eyes focused on what is ·right [or straight ahead],
and ·look straight ahead to what is good [L your eyelids on what is in front].
26 ·Be careful what you do [L Watch your feet on the way],
and ·always do what is right [L all your paths will be secure/sure].
27 Don’t turn off ·the road of goodness [L to the right or to the left];
·keep away [L turn your feet] from evil paths.
Proverbs 4
Maori Bible
4 Whakarongo, e aku tamariki, ki te whakaako a te matua, tahuri mai hoki kia matauria ai nga whakaaro mohio.
2 He pai hoki te kupu mohio ka hoatu nei e ahau ki a koutou, kaua taku ture e whakarerea.
3 He tama ano hoki ahau ki toku papa, a he ngawari, he mea kotahi e matenuitia ana e toku whaea.
4 I whakaako ano ia i ahau, i mea ki ahau, Puritia aku kupu e tou ngakau; kia mau ki aku whakahau, a e ora koe.
5 Whaia mou te whakaaro nui, whaia mou te matauranga; kaua e wareware ki tera, kaua hoki e neke atu i nga kupu a toku mangai.
6 Kaua ia e whakarerea, a mana koe e tiaki; arohaina ia, a mana koe e mau ai.
7 Ko te whakaaro nui te tino mea; no reira whaia mau te whakaaro nui; a i ou whiwhinga katoa, kia whiwhi koe ki te matauranga.
8 Whakanuia ia, a mana koe ka kake ai; ka whakahonore ia i a koe ki te awhitia e koe.
9 Ka homai e ia he pare ataahua ki tou mahunga, ka potaea ano koe e ia ki te karauna whakapaipai.
10 Whakarongo, e taku tama, maharatia aku kupu, a he maha nga tau e ora ai koe.
11 He mea whakaako koe naku ki te ara o te whakaaro nui; he mea arahi koe naku i nga ara o te tika.
12 Ka haere koe, e kore ou takahanga e whakakikitia mai; ki te rere koe, e kore koe e tutuki.
13 Kia mau ki te ako, kaua e tukua atu; matapoporetia iho, ko tou oranga hoki ia.
14 Kaua e haere i te ara o te hunga kino, kaua hoki e takahia te huarahi o te hunga he.
15 Anga ke ake, kaua e tika na reira; peka ake i taua ara, haere tonu atu.
16 E kore hoki ratou e moe ki te kore e oti tetahi mahi he ma ratou; riro rawa to ratou moe, ki te kahore tetahi tangata e hinga i a ratou.
17 No te kino hoki te taro e kainga ana e ratou, no te nanakia te waina e inumia ana e ratou.
18 Ko te huarahi ia o te hunga tika, koia ano kei te marama e whiti ana, a ka neke haere tonu ake tona marama, a taea noatia te tino ra.
19 Ko te ara o te hunga kino, me he pouri; e kore ratou e mohio ki te mea i tutuki ai ratou.
20 E taku tama, tahuri ki aku kupu; anga mai tou taringa ki aku korero.
21 Kei kotiti ke enei i ou kanohi; puritia i waenganui o tou ngakau.
22 He oranga enei mo te hunga e kitea ai, he rongoa mo o ratou kikokiko katoa.
23 Kia pau ou mahara ki te tiaki i tou ngakau; no reira hoki nga putanga o te ora.
24 Whakarerea te mangai whanoke, kia matara rawa i a koe nga ngutu tutu.
25 Kia hangai tonu te titiro whakamua a ou kanohi; kia titiro ou kamo ki mua tonu i a koe.
26 Whakatikaia te huarahi o ou waewae, kia u ano hoki ou ara katoa.
27 Kaua e peka ki matau, ki maui; kia anga ke tou waewae i te kino.
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