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Proverbs 1:8-9
Lexham English Bible
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
New International Version
Proverbs 1:8-9
New International Version
Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom
Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men
Proverbs 3:1-2
Lexham English Bible
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
New International Version
Proverbs 3:1-2
New International Version
Wisdom Bestows Well-Being
Proverbs 4:1-13
Lexham English Bible
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
New International Version
Proverbs 4:1-13
New International Version
Get Wisdom at Any Cost
4 Listen, my sons,(A) to a father’s instruction;(B)
pay attention and gain understanding.(C)
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold(D) of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.(E)
5 Get wisdom,(F) get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;(G)
love her, and she will watch over you.(H)
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
Though it cost all(I) you have,[b] get understanding.(J)
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.(K)
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.(L)”
10 Listen, my son,(M) accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.(N)
11 I instruct(O) you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.(P)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.(Q)
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.(R)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
- Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get
Proverbs 4:20-22
Lexham English Bible
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
New International Version
Proverbs 4:20-22
New International Version
Proverbs 5:1-2
Lexham English Bible
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
New International Version
Proverbs 5:1-2
New International Version
Warning Against Adultery
Proverbs 6:20-23
Lexham English Bible
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
New International Version
Proverbs 6:20-23
New International Version
Warning Against Adultery
20 My son,(A) keep your father’s command
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(B)
21 Bind them always on your heart;
fasten them around your neck.(C)
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For this command is a lamp,
this teaching is a light,(D)
and correction and instruction
are the way to life,(E)
Proverbs 7:1-3
Lexham English Bible
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
New International Version
Proverbs 7:1-3
New International Version
Warning Against the Adulterous Woman
Proverbs 10:17
Lexham English Bible
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
New International Version
Proverbs 10:17
New International Version
17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,(A)
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
Proverbs 19:16
Lexham English Bible
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
New International Version
Proverbs 19:16
New International Version
16 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.(A)
Proverbs 23:22
Lexham English Bible
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
New International Version
Proverbs 23:22
New International Version
Saying 17
22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.(A)
Proverbs 28:4
Lexham English Bible
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
New International Version
Proverbs 28:4
New International Version
4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
but those who heed it resist them.
Proverbs 28:7
Lexham English 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
New International Version
Proverbs 28:7
New International Version
7 A discerning son heeds instruction,
but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.(A)
Proverbs 29:18
Lexham English Bible
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
New International Version
Proverbs 29:18
New International Version
18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.(A)
Lexham English Bible (LEB)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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