Proverbs 1:8-9
Lexham English Bible
Lecture Against Gang Behavior
8 My child, may you keep[a] your father’s instruction,
and do not reject your mother’s teachings,
9 for they are a garland of favor for your head,
and pendants for your neck.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 1:8 Or “obey,” or “hear”
Proverbs 1:8-9
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Avoid the Path of the Violent
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,
and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,(A)
9 for they will be a garland(B) of grace on your head
and a gold chain around your neck.(C)
Proverbs 3:1-2
Lexham English Bible
Wisdom and Piety
3 My child, do not forget my instruction,
and may your heart guard my commands.
2 For length of days, years of life,
and peace they[a] shall add to you.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:2 That is, “my commands” (3:1)
Proverbs 3:1-2
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Trust the Lord
3 My son, don’t forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commands;(A)
2 for they will bring you
many days, a full life,[a](B) and well-being.(C)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:2 Lit days, years of life
Proverbs 4:1-13
Lexham English Bible
The Father’s Wisdom
4 Children, listen to the instruction of a father,
and be attentive in order to know insight.
2 For I have given you good instruction;
do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a son to my father,
tender and alone before my mother,
4 he taught me and said to me,
“May your heart hold fast to my words;
guard my commandments and live.
5 Get wisdom and insight;
do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her—then she will guard you;
love her and she will keep you.
7 The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom!
With all that is in your possession, gain insight.
8 Cherish her and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will give a garland for your head;
she shall bestow a crown of glory upon you.”
The Right Path
10 Listen, my child, take my sayings,
and the years of your life shall be great.
11 In the way of wisdom I have instructed you;
I have led you in the path of uprightness.
12 When you walk,[a] your step will not be hampered,
and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Seize the instruction! Do not let go!
Guard her, for she is your life.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:12 Literally “In your walking”
Proverbs 4:1-13
Holman Christian Standard Bible
A Father’s Example
4 Listen, my sons, to a father’s discipline,(A)
and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,
2 for I am giving you good instruction.(B)
Don’t abandon my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father,
tender and precious to my mother,
4 he taught me and said:
“Your heart must hold on to my words.
Keep my commands and live.(C)
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;(D)
don’t forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you;
love her,(E) and she will guard you.
7 Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom.
And whatever else you get, get understanding.(F)
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
if you embrace her, she will honor you.(G)
9 She will place a garland of grace on your head;
she will give you a crown of beauty.”(H)
Two Ways of Life
10 Listen, my son. Accept my words,(I)
and you will live many years.(J)
11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom;
I am guiding you on straight paths.(K)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered;(L)
when you run, you will not stumble.(M)
13 Hold on to instruction; don’t let go.(N)
Guard it, for it is your life.
Proverbs 4:20-22
Lexham English Bible
Staying the Course
20 My child, be attentive to my words;
to my sayings incline your ear.
21 May they not escape from your sight;[a]
keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them
and healing to the entire body.[b]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:21 Literally “eyes”
- Proverbs 4:22 Literally “for all his flesh”
Proverbs 4:20-22
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Straight Path
20 My son, pay attention to my words;
listen closely to my sayings.(A)
21 Don’t lose sight of them;(B)
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and health to one’s whole body.
Proverbs 5:1-2
Lexham English Bible
5 My child, be attentive to my wisdom,
and to my understanding incline your ear;
2 in order to keep prudence,
and knowledge will guard your lips.
Proverbs 5:1-2
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Avoid Seduction
5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
listen closely[a] to my understanding(A)
2 so that you may maintain discretion
and your lips safeguard knowledge.(B)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 5:1 Lit wisdom; stretch out your ear
Proverbs 6:20-23
Lexham English Bible
Commandment and Instruction as Guardians
20 My child, keep the commandment of your father,
and do not disregard the instruction of your mother.
21 Bind them on your heart continually;
tie them upon your neck.
22 When you walk,[a] she[b] will lead you,
When you lie down,[c] she will watch over you,
and when you awake, she will converse with you.
23 For like a lamp is a commandment, and instruction is light,
and the way of life[d] is the reproof of discipline,
Footnotes
- Proverbs 6:22 Literally “In your walking”
- Proverbs 6:22 That is, “commandment” and “instruction”
- Proverbs 6:22 Literally “In your lying down”
- Proverbs 6:23 Hebrew “lives”
Proverbs 6:20-23
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Warning against Adultery
20 My son, keep your father’s command,
and don’t reject your mother’s teaching.(A)
21 Always bind them to your heart;
tie them around your neck.(B)
22 When you walk here and there, they will guide you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
when you wake up, they will talk to you.
23 For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light,(C)
and corrective discipline is the way to life.(D)
Proverbs 7:1-3
Lexham English Bible
Warning Against the Strange Woman
7 My child, guard my sayings;
store my commandments with you.
2 Keep my commands and live,
and my teaching like the apple of your eye.[a]
3 Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 7:2 A single word meaning “pupil of the eye”
Proverbs 7:1-3
Holman Christian Standard Bible
7 My son, obey my words,
and treasure my commands.(A)
2 Keep my commands and live;(B)
protect my teachings
as the pupil of your eye.(C)
3 Tie them to your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.(D)
Proverbs 10:17
Lexham English Bible
17 On the path to life is he who guards instruction,
but he who rejects rebuke goes astray.
Proverbs 10:17
Holman Christian Standard Bible
17 The one who follows instruction is on the path to life,
but the one who rejects correction goes astray.(A)
Proverbs 19:16
Lexham English Bible
16 He who guards commandments guards his life;[a]
he who is careless of his ways will be killed.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:16 Or “soul,” or “inner self”
Proverbs 19:16
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:16 Or despises, or treats lightly
Proverbs 23:22
Lexham English Bible
22 Listen to your father—he who gave you life,[a]
and do not despise your mother when[b] she is old.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 23:22 Literally “caused you to be born”
- Proverbs 23:22 Or “for, because”
Proverbs 23:22
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Footnotes
- Proverbs 23:22 Or because
Proverbs 28:4
Lexham English Bible
4 Those who forsake instruction will praise the wicked,
but they who guard instruction will struggle against them.
Proverbs 28:4
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 28:7
Lexham English Bible
7 He who keeps instruction is a child of understanding,
but the companion of gluttons will shame his father.
Proverbs 28:7
Holman Christian Standard Bible
7 A discerning son keeps the law,
but a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.(A)
Proverbs 29:18
Lexham English Bible
18 When there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint,
but as for he who guards instruction, happiness is his.
Proverbs 29:18
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:18 Lit vision
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