Add parallel Print Page Options

Lecture Against Gang Behavior

My child, may you keep[a] your father’s instruction,
    and do not reject your mother’s teachings,
for they are a garland of favor for your head,
    and pendants for your neck.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:8 Or “obey,” or “hear”

Shun Evil Counsel

(A)My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not forsake the law of your mother;
For they will be a (B)graceful ornament on your head,
And chains about your neck.

Read full chapter

Wisdom and Piety

My child, do not forget my instruction,
    and may your heart guard my commands.
For length of days, years of life,
    and peace they[a] shall add to you.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:2 That is, “my commands” (3:1)

Guidance for the Young

My son, do not forget my law,
(A)But let your heart keep my commands;
For length of days and long life
And (B)peace they will add to you.

Read full chapter

The Father’s Wisdom

Children, listen to the instruction of a father,
    and be attentive in order to know insight.
For I have given you good instruction;
    do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son to my father,
    tender and alone before my mother,
he taught me and said to me,
    “May your heart hold fast to my words;
    guard my commandments and live.
Get wisdom and insight;
    do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.
Do not forsake her—then she will guard you;
    love her and she will keep you.
The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom!
    With all that is in your possession, gain insight.
Cherish her and she will exalt you;
    she will honor you if you embrace her.
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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:12 Literally “In your walking”

Security in Wisdom

Hear, (A)my children, the instruction of a father,
And give attention to know understanding;
For I give you good doctrine:
Do not forsake my law.
When I was my father’s son,
(B)Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
(C)He also taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words;
(D)Keep my commands, and live.
(E)Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
(F)Love her, and she will keep you.
(G)Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
(H)Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
She will place on your head (I)an ornament of grace;
A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”

10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,
(J)And the years of your life will be many.
11 I have (K)taught you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in right paths.
12 When you walk, (L)your steps will not be hindered,
(M)And when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;
Keep her, for she is your life.

Read full chapter

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]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:21 Literally “eyes”
  2. Proverbs 4:22 Literally “for all his flesh”

20 My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.

Read full chapter

My child, be attentive to my wisdom,
    and to my understanding incline your ear;
in order to keep prudence,
    and knowledge will guard your lips.

Read full chapter

The Peril of Adultery

My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
[a]Lend your ear to my understanding,
That you may [b]preserve discretion,
And your lips (A)may keep knowledge.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 5:1 Lit. Bow
  2. Proverbs 5:2 appreciate good judgment

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,

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:22 Literally “In your walking”
  2. Proverbs 6:22 That is, “commandment” and “instruction”
  3. Proverbs 6:22 Literally “In your lying down”
  4. Proverbs 6:23 Hebrew “lives”

Beware of Adultery

20 (A)My son, keep your father’s command,
And do not forsake the law of your mother.
21 (B)Bind them continually upon your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
22 (C)When you roam, [a]they will lead you;
When you sleep, (D)they will keep you;
And when you awake, they will speak with you.
23 (E)For the commandment is a lamp,
And the law a light;
Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:22 Lit. it

Warning Against the Strange Woman

My child, guard my sayings;
    store my commandments with you.
Keep my commands and live,
    and my teaching like the apple of your eye.[a]
Bind them on your fingers;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 7:2 A single word meaning “pupil of the eye”

The Wiles of a Harlot

My son, keep my words,
And (A)treasure my commands within you.
(B)Keep my commands and live,
(C)And my law as the apple of your eye.
(D)Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Read full chapter

17 On the path to life is he who guards instruction,
    but he who rejects rebuke goes astray.

Read full chapter

17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
But he who refuses correction [a]goes astray.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:17 leads

16 He who guards commandments guards his life;[a]
    he who is careless of his ways will be killed.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:16 Or “soul,” or “inner self”

16 (A)He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who [a]is careless of his ways will die.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:16 Is reckless, lit. despises

22 Listen to your father—he who gave you life,[a]
    and do not despise your mother when[b] she is old.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:22 Literally “caused you to be born”
  2. Proverbs 23:22 Or “for, because”

22 (A)Listen to your father who begot you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.

Read full chapter

Those who forsake instruction will praise the wicked,
    but they who guard instruction will struggle against them.

Read full chapter

(A)Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
(B)But such as keep the law contend with them.

Read full chapter

He who keeps instruction is a child of understanding,
    but the companion of gluttons will shame his father.

Read full chapter

Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son,
But a companion of gluttons shames his father.

Read full chapter

18 When there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint,
    but as for he who guards instruction, happiness is his.

Read full chapter

18 (A)Where there is no [a]revelation, the people cast off restraint;
But (B)happy is he who keeps the law.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:18 prophetic vision