Bible History
Bible History

Proverbs 4 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

You are here: Home New American Standard Bible (NASB) Proverbs 4

A Father’s Instruction

4 Listen, my sons, to the (A)instruction of a father,
And (B)pay attention so that you may [a]gain understanding,
2 For I give you good (C)teaching;
(D)Do not abandon my [b]instruction.
3 When I was a son to my father,
(E)Tender and (F)the only son in the sight of my mother,
4 He (G)taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart (H)take hold of my words;
(I)Keep my commandments and live;
5 (J)Acquire wisdom! (K)Acquire understanding!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not abandon her, and she will guard you;
(L)Love her, and she will watch over you.
7 (M)The [c]beginning of wisdom is: (N)Acquire wisdom;
And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.
8 (O)Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place (P)on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty.”

10 Listen, my son, and (Q)accept my sayings,
And the (R)years of your life will be many.
11 I have (S)instructed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
12 When you walk, your (T)steps will not be hampered;
And if you run, you (U)will not stumble.
13 (V)Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your (W)life.
14 (X)Do not enter the path of the wicked
And do not proceed in the way of evil people.
15 Avoid it, do not pass by it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they (Y)cannot sleep unless they do evil;
And [d]they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 For they (Z)eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.
18 But the (AA)path of the righteous is like the (AB)light of dawn
That (AC)shines brighter and brighter until the (AD)full day.
19 The (AE)way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know over what they [e](AF)stumble.

20 My son, (AG)pay attention to my words;
(AH)Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 (AI)They are not to escape from your sight;
(AJ)Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are (AK)life to those who find them,
And (AL)healing to all [f]their body.
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For (AM)from it flow the springs of life.
24 Rid yourself of a (AN)deceitful mouth
And (AO)keep devious [g]speech far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your [h]gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26 (AP)[i]Watch the path of your feet,
And all your (AQ)ways will be established.
27 (AR)Do not turn to the right or to the left;
(AS)Turn your foot from evil.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:1 Lit know
  2. Proverbs 4:2 Or law
  3. Proverbs 4:7 Or primary thing is wisdom
  4. Proverbs 4:16 Lit their sleep is robbed
  5. Proverbs 4:19 Or may stumble
  6. Proverbs 4:22 Lit his
  7. Proverbs 4:24 Or lips
  8. Proverbs 4:25 Or eyelids
  9. Proverbs 4:26 I.e., prob. stay on the path

Cross references

  1. Proverbs 4:1 : Ps 34:11; Prov 1:8
  2. Proverbs 4:1 : Prov 1:2; 2:2
  3. Proverbs 4:2 : Deut 32:2; Job 11:4
  4. Proverbs 4:2 : Ps 89:30; 119:87; Prov 3:1
  5. Proverbs 4:3 : 1 Chr 22:5; 29:1
  6. Proverbs 4:3 : Zech 12:10
  7. Proverbs 4:4 : Eph 6:4
  8. Proverbs 4:4 : Ps 119:168
  9. Proverbs 4:4 : Prov 7:2
  10. Proverbs 4:5 : Prov 4:7
  11. Proverbs 4:5 : Prov 16:16
  12. Proverbs 4:6 : 2 Thess 2:10
  13. Proverbs 4:7 : Prov 8:23
  14. Proverbs 4:7 : Prov 23:23
  15. Proverbs 4:8 : 1 Sam 2:30
  16. Proverbs 4:9 : Prov 1:9
  17. Proverbs 4:10 : Prov 2:1
  18. Proverbs 4:10 : Prov 3:2
  19. Proverbs 4:11 : 1 Sam 12:23
  20. Proverbs 4:12 : Job 18:7; Ps 18:36
  21. Proverbs 4:12 : Ps 91:11; Prov 3:23
  22. Proverbs 4:13 : Prov 3:18
  23. Proverbs 4:13 : Prov 3:22; John 6:63
  24. Proverbs 4:14 : Ps 1:1; Prov 1:15
  25. Proverbs 4:16 : Ps 36:4; Mic 2:1
  26. Proverbs 4:17 : Prov 13:2
  27. Proverbs 4:18 : Is 26:7; Matt 5:14; Phil 2:15
  28. Proverbs 4:18 : 2 Sam 23:4
  29. Proverbs 4:18 : Dan 12:3
  30. Proverbs 4:18 : Job 11:17
  31. Proverbs 4:19 : Job 18:5, 6; Prov 2:13; Is 59:9, 10; Jer 23:12; John 12:35
  32. Proverbs 4:19 : John 11:10
  33. Proverbs 4:20 : Prov 5:1
  34. Proverbs 4:20 : Prov 2:2
  35. Proverbs 4:21 : Prov 3:21
  36. Proverbs 4:21 : Prov 7:1, 2
  37. Proverbs 4:22 : Prov 3:22
  38. Proverbs 4:22 : Prov 3:8; 12:18
  39. Proverbs 4:23 : Matt 12:34; 15:18, 19; Mark 7:21; Luke 6:45
  40. Proverbs 4:24 : Prov 6:12; 10:32
  41. Proverbs 4:24 : Prov 19:1
  42. Proverbs 4:26 : Prov 5:21; Heb 12:13
  43. Proverbs 4:26 : Ps 119:5
  44. Proverbs 4:27 : Deut 5:32; 28:14
  45. Proverbs 4:27 : Prov 1:15; Is 1:16

You Might Also Like:

Proverbs 4 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

4 Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding. 2 For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not. 3 For, a son I have been to my father -- tender, And an only one before my mother. 4 And he directeth me, and he saith to me: `Let thy heart retain my ...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

4 Sons, hear ye the teaching of your father; and perceive ye (and understand ye), (so) that ye know prudence. 2 I shall give to you a good gift; forsake ye not my law. (I give you a good gift; do not ye abandon my instructions.) 3 For why and I was the son of my father, a tender son, and one begotte...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - World English Bible (WEB)

4 Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;2 for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.3 For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.4 He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandmen...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - The Voice (VOICE)

It’s perfectly natural to envy those who are successful. It’s even natural to want to imitate them. But what about those who’ve gotten ahead by doing the wrong thing? Sometimes it seems crime does pay, the good do die young, and the wicked do have more fun. But it only appears this way; it is not re...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

A Father’s Lesson: Get Wisdom!4 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction.Pay attention, to gain understanding.2 For I give you sound learning—do not forsake my instruction.3 When I was a son to my father,tender and special to my mother,4 he taught me and said to me: “Lay hold of my words in your h...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Fatherly Advice4 Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,and be attentive, that you may gain[a] insight;2 for I give you good precepts: do not forsake my teaching.3 When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,4 he taught me, and said to me,“Let your heart hold fast m...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Fatherly Advice4 Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,and be attentive, that you may gain[a] insight;2 for I give you good precepts: do not forsake my teaching.3 When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,4 he taught me, and said to me,“Let your heart hold fast m...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Parental Advice4 Listen, children, to a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain[a] insight;2 for I give you good precepts: do not forsake my teaching.3 When I was a son with my father, tender, and my mother’s favourite,4 he taught me, and said to me,‘Let your heart hold fast my wor...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Parental Advice4 Listen, children, to a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain[a] insight,(A)2 for I give you good precepts: do not forsake my teaching.3 When I was a son with my father, tender and my mother’s favorite,(B)4 he taught me and said to me,“Let your heart hold fast my ...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New Living Translation (NLT)

A Father’s Wise Advice4 My children,[a] listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment,2 for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions.3 For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child. 4 My father taught me,“Take ...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New Life Version (NLV)

A Father’s Teaching4 O sons, hear the teaching of a father. Listen so you may get understanding. 2 For I give you good teaching. Do not turn away from it. 3 When I was a much loved and only son of my mother and father, 4 he taught me, saying, “Hold my words close to your heart. Keep my teachings ...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Security in Wisdom4 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...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Get wisdom at any cost4 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.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 of my wo...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New International Version (NIV)

Get Wisdom at Any Cost4 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...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Get Wisdom at Any Cost4 My sons, listen to a father’s teaching. Pay attention and gain understanding.2 I give you good advice. So don’t turn away from what I teach you.3 I, too, was once a young boy in my father’s house. And my mother loved me deeply.4 Then my father taught me. He said to me, “Take ...
Read More

Proverbs 4 - New English Translation (NET)

Admonition to Follow Righteousness and Avoid Wickedness[a]4 Listen, children,[b] to a father’s instruction,[c]and pay attention so that you may gain[d] discernment.2 Because I hereby give[e] you good instruction,do not forsake my teaching. 3 When I was a son to my father,[f]a tender, only child[g] ...
Read More

61 Bible Translations

Popular Articles

Explore the Bible Like Never Before!

Bible History Online

Bible Study Tools

Top Tags