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
International Children’s Bible
Wisdom Is Important
4 My children, listen to your father’s teaching.
Pay attention so you will understand.
2 What I am telling you is good.
Do not forget what I teach you.
3 I was once a young boy in my father’s house.
I was like an only child to my mother.
4 And my father taught me and said,
“Hold on to my words with all your heart.
Keep my commands and you will live.
5 Get wisdom and understanding.
Don’t forget or ignore my words.
6 Use wisdom, and it will take care of you.
Love wisdom, and it will keep you safe.
7 Wisdom is the most important thing. So get wisdom.
If it costs everything you have, get understanding.
8 Believe in the value of wisdom, and it will make you great.
Use it, and it will bring honor to you.
9 Like flowers in your hair, it will beautify your life.
Like a crown, it will make you look beautiful.”
10 My child, listen and accept what I say.
Then you will have a long life.
11 I am guiding you in wisdom.
And I am leading you to do what is right.
12 Nothing will hold you back.
You will not be overwhelmed.
13 Always remember what you have been taught.
Don’t let go of it.
Keep safe all that you have learned.
It is the most important thing in your life.
14 Don’t follow the ways of the wicked.
Don’t do what evil people do.
15 Avoid their ways. Don’t go near what they do.
Stay away from them and keep on going.
16 They cannot sleep until they do evil.
They cannot rest until they hurt someone.
17 They fill themselves with wickedness and cruelty
as if they were eating bread and drinking wine.
18 The way of the good person is like the light of dawn.
It grows brighter and brighter until it is full daylight.
19 But the wicked are like those who stumble in the dark.
They can’t even see what has hurt them.
20 My child, pay attention to my words.
Listen closely to what I say.
21 Don’t ever forget my words.
Keep them deep within your heart.
22 These words are the secret to life for those who find them.
They bring health to the whole body.
23 Be very careful about what you think.
Your thoughts run your life.
24 Don’t use your mouth to tell lies.
Don’t ever say things that are not true.
25 Keep your eyes focused on what is right.
Keep looking straight ahead to what is good.
26 Be careful what you do.
Always do what is right.
27 Do not do anything unless it is right.
Stay away from evil.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
