HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 932
P RO VERBS 4
A Father’s Wise Advice
1 My children,* 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.
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My father taught me,
“Take my words to heart.
Follow my commands, and you will live.
Get wisdom; develop good judgment.
Don’t forget my words or turn away
from them.
Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she
will protect you.
Love her, and she will guard you.
Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good
judgment.
If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
Embrace her, and she will honor you.
She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
she will present you with a beautiful
crown.”
My child,* listen to me and do as I say,
and you will have a long, good life.
I will teach you wisdom’s ways
and lead you in straight paths.
When you walk, you won’t be held back;
when you run, you won’t stumble.
Take hold of my instructions; don’t let
them go.
Guard them, for they are the key to life.
Don’t do as the wicked do,
and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
Turn away and keep moving.
• Wisdom
PR OV E R B S 4 :1 -1 3
Parents generally do all they can to meet
the physical, emotional, and educational
needs of their children. Proverbs suggests that the most important asset we
can impart to our children is a hunger for
wisdom. Unlike intelligence, personality,
or talent, wisdom is not in our genetic
makeup; we must learn it from God. We
begin to be wise when we are reverent
toward God and his Word. Parents who
teach wisdom and model good judgment
leave their children an inheritance that
is life-giving—and far more valuable
than gold.
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For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve
done their evil deed for the day.
They can’t rest until they’ve caused
someone to stumble.
They eat the food of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence!
The way of the righteous is like the first
gleam of dawn,
which shines ever brighter until the
full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like total
darkness.
They have no idea what they are
stumbling over.
My child, pay attention to what I say.
Listen carefully to my words.
Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body.
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Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.
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Avoid all perverse talk;
stay away from corrupt speech.
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Look straight ahead,
and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
Mark out a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path.
Don’t get sidetracked;
keep your feet from following evil.
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Avoid Immoral Women
1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
listen carefully to my wise counsel.
2 Then you will show discernment,
and your lips will express what you’ve
learned.
3 For the lips of an immoral woman are as
sweet as honey,
and her mouth is smoother than oil.
4 But in the end she is as bitter as poison,
as dangerous as a double-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave.*
6 For she cares nothing about the path
to life.
She staggers down a crooked trail and
doesn’t realize it.
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So now, my sons, listen to me.
Never stray from what I am about to say:
Stay away from her!
Don’t go near the door of her house!
If you do, you will lose your honor
and will lose to merciless people all
you have achieved.
Strangers will consume your wealth,
4:1 Hebrew My sons. 4:10 Hebrew My son; also in 4:20.
5:5 Hebrew to Sheol.