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 King James Version
Shun Evil Counsel
8 (A)My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not forsake the law of your mother;
9 For they will be a (B)graceful ornament on your head,
And chains about your neck.
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 King James Version
Guidance for the Young
3 My son, do not forget my law,
(A)But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life
And (B)peace they will add to you.
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 King James Version
Security in Wisdom
4 Hear, (A)my children, the instruction of a father,
And give attention to know understanding;
2 For I give you good doctrine:
Do not forsake my law.
3 When I was my father’s son,
(B)Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 (C)He also taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words;
(D)Keep my commands, and live.
5 (E)Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
(F)Love her, and she will keep you.
7 (G)Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
8 (H)Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
9 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.
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 King James Version
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.
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 King James Version
The Peril of Adultery
5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
[a]Lend your ear to my understanding,
2 That you may [b]preserve discretion,
And your lips (A)may keep knowledge.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 5:1 Lit. Bow
- Proverbs 5:2 appreciate good judgment
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 King James Version
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,
Footnotes
- Proverbs 6:22 Lit. it
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 King James Version
The Wiles of a Harlot
7 My son, keep my words,
And (A)treasure my commands within you.
2 (B)Keep my commands and live,
(C)And my law as the apple of your eye.
3 (D)Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
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 King James Version
17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
But he who refuses correction [a]goes astray.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:17 leads
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 King James Version
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:16 Is reckless, lit. despises
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 King James Version
22 (A)Listen to your father who begot you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.
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 King James Version
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 King James Version
7 Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son,
But a companion of gluttons shames his father.
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 King James Version
18 (A)Where there is no [a]revelation, the people cast off restraint;
But (B)happy is he who keeps the law.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:18 prophetic vision
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.