THE
PROVERBS

Proverbs 4 ©

Solomon (propounding his own example how he was taught and instructed by his parents) exhorts again with many reason and arguments to study the doctrine of wisdom, verse 1, etc. Also to show and decline the paths of the wicked, 14. To keep the words of wisdom, 20. To practice holiness of soul and body, in ordering of the heart, mouth, eyes and feet, 23.

1

HEAR, ye 1children, the 2instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

2

For I give you good 3doctrine, 4forsake ye not my 5law.

3

For I was 6my father’s son,a7tender and 8only beloved in the sight of my mother.

4

Heb taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, 9and live.

5

Get wisdom, get understanding: 10forget it not; neither declinec from the words 11of my mouth.

6

12Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

7

Wisdom is 13the principal thing; therefore getd wisdom: and 14with all thy getting get understanding.

8

15Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to 16honour, when thou dost embrace her.

9

Shee shall give to thine head 17an ornament of grace: a 18crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

10

Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and 19the years of thy life shall be many.

11

I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee 20in right paths.

12

When thou goest, thy 21steps shall not be 22straitened; and when thou runnest, thouf shalt not stumble.

13

Take fast hold of 23instruction; 24let her not go: 25keep her; for she is thy 26life.

14

¶Enterg not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

15

Avoid 27it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

16

For 28they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some 29to fall.

17

For they eat the 30bread 31of wickedness, and drink the wine 32of violence.

18

But the path of the just is as the 33shining light, that shineth more and more unto the 34perfect day.

19

The way of the wicked is as 35darkness: 36they know not 37at what they stumble.

20

¶My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21

Let them not 38depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

22

For 39they areh40life unto those that find them, and 41health to 42all their flesh.

23

¶Keep thy 43heart 44with all diligence; for out of it are the 45issues of life.

24

Put away from thee a 46froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

25

47Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look 48straight before thee.

26

49Ponder the 50path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be 51established.

27

Turni52not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.