pay attention and gain understanding.
1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
2For I give you sound teaching;
do not abandon my directive.
3When I was a son to my father,
tender and the only child of my mother,
4he taught me and said,
“Let your heart lay hold of my words;keep my commands and you will live.
5Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn from them.
6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you;
love her, and she will guard you.
7Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom.
And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
8Prize her, and she will exalt you;
if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9She will set a garland of grace on your head;
she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
10Listen, my son, and receive my words,
and the years of your life will be many.
11I will guide you in the way of wisdom;
I will lead you on straight paths.
12When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13Hold on to instruction; do not let go.
Guard it, for it is your life.
14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.
15Avoid it; do not travel on it.
Turn from it and pass on by.
16For they cannot sleep
unless they do evil;they are deprived of slumber
until they make someone fall. 17For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;
they do not know what makes them stumble.
20My son, pay attention to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21Do not lose sight of them;
keep them within your heart.
22For they are life to those who find them,
and health to the whole body.
23Guard your heart with all diligence,
for from it flow springs of life.
24Put away deception from your mouth;
keep your lips from perverse speech.
25Let your eyes look forward;
fix your gaze straight ahead.
26Make a level path for your feet,
and all your ways will be sure.
27Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your feet away from evil.
— Proverbs 4
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Related Resources from Heartlight
There are 9 resources related to this passage:
Illustration of Proverbs 4:25-26
Illustration of Proverbs 4:25-26 -- Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
Illustration of Proverbs 4:6
Illustration of Proverbs 4:6 -- Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
Illustration of Proverbs 4:27
Illustration of Proverbs 4:27 -- Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
Illustration of Proverbs 4:27
Illustration of Proverbs 4:27 -- Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
Illustration of Proverbs 4:11
Illustration of Proverbs 4:11 -- I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
Illustration of Proverbs 4:27
e-card based on Proverbs 4:27 - Do not swerve to the right or left; keep your foot from evil.
Illustration of Proverbs 4:18
Illustration of Proverbs 4:18 -- The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
Illustration of Proverbs 4:7
Illustration of Proverbs 4:7 -- Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
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