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Proverbs 2-4
Contemporary English Version
Proverbs 2-4
Contemporary English Version
Wisdom and Bad Friends
2 My child, you must follow
and treasure my teachings
and my instructions.
2 Keep in tune with wisdom
and think what it means
to have common sense.
3 Beg as loud as you can
for good common sense.
4 Search for wisdom
as you would search for silver
or hidden treasure.
5 Then you will understand
what it means to respect
and to know the Lord God.
6 (A) All wisdom comes from the Lord,
and so do common sense
and understanding.
7 God gives helpful advice[a]
to everyone who obeys him
and protects those
who live as they should.
8 God sees that justice is done,
and he watches over everyone
who is faithful to him.
9 With wisdom you will learn
what is right
and honest and fair.
10 Wisdom will control your mind,
and you will be pleased
with knowledge.
11 Sound judgment and good sense
will watch over you.
12 Wisdom will protect you
from evil schemes
and from those liars
13 who turned from doing good
to live in the darkness.
14 Most of all they enjoy
being mean and deceitful.
15 They are dishonest themselves,
and so are all their deeds.
Wisdom and Sexual Purity
16 Wisdom will protect you
from the smooth talk
of a sinful woman,
17 who breaks her wedding vows
and leaves the man she married
when she was young.
18 The road to her house leads
down
to the dark world
of the dead.
19 Visit her, and you will never
find the road to life again.
20 Follow the example
of good people
and live an honest life.
21 If you are honest and innocent,
you will keep your land;
22 if you do wrong
and can never be trusted,
you will be rooted out.
Trust God
3 My child, remember
my teachings and instructions
and obey them completely.
2 They will help you live
a long and prosperous life.
3 Let love and loyalty
always show like a necklace,
and write them in your mind.
4 (B) God and people will like you
and hold you in high esteem.
5 With all your heart
you must trust the Lord
and not your own judgment.
6 Always let him lead you,
and he will clear the road
for you to follow.
7 (C) Don't ever think that you
are wise enough,
but respect the Lord
and stay away from evil.
8 This will make you healthy,
and you will feel strong.
9 Honor the Lord by giving him
your money and the first part
of all your crops.
10 Then you will have
more grain and grapes
than you will ever need.
11 (D)(E) My child, don't turn away
or become bitter
when the Lord corrects you.
12 (F) The Lord corrects
everyone he loves,
just as parents correct
a child they dearly love.
The Value of Wisdom
13 God blesses everyone
who has wisdom
and common sense.
14 Wisdom is worth more
than silver;
it makes you much richer
than gold.
15 Wisdom is more valuable
than precious jewels;
nothing you want
compares with her.
16 In her right hand
Wisdom holds a long life,
and in her left hand
are wealth and honor.
17 Wisdom makes life pleasant
and leads us safely along.
18 Wisdom is a life-giving tree,
the source of happiness
for all who hold on to her.
19 By his wisdom and knowledge
the Lord created
heaven and earth.
20 By his understanding
he let the ocean break loose
and clouds release the rain.
21 My child, use common sense
and sound judgment!
Always keep them in mind.
22 They will help you to live
a long and beautiful life.
23 You will walk safely
and never stumble;
24 you will rest without a worry
and sleep soundly.
25 So don't be afraid
of sudden disasters
or storms that strike
those who are evil.
26 You can be sure that the Lord
will protect you from harm.
27 (G) Do all you can for everyone
who deserves your help.
28 Don't tell your neighbor
to come back tomorrow,
if you can help today.
29 Don't try to be mean
to neighbors who trust you.
30 Don't argue just to be arguing,
when you haven't been hurt.
31 Don't be jealous
of cruel people
or follow their example.
32 The Lord doesn't like
anyone who is dishonest,
but he lets good people
be his friends.
33 He places a curse on the home
of everyone who is evil,
but he blesses the home
of every good person.
34 (H) The Lord sneers at those
who sneer at him,
but he is kind to everyone
who is humble.
35 You will be praised
if you are wise,
but you will be disgraced
if you are a stubborn fool.
Advice to Young People
4 My child, listen closely
to my teachings
and learn common sense.
2 My advice is useful,
so don't turn away.
3 When I was still very young
and my mother's favorite child,
my father 4 said to me:
“If you follow my teachings
and keep them in mind,
you will live.
5 Be wise and learn good sense;
remember my teachings
and do what I say.
6 “If you love Wisdom
and don't reject her,
she will watch over you.
7 The best thing about Wisdom
is Wisdom herself;
good sense is more important
than anything else.
8 If you value Wisdom
and hold tightly to her,
great honors will be yours.
9 It will be like wearing
a glorious crown
of beautiful flowers.”
The Right Way and the Wrong Way
10 My child, if you listen
and obey my teachings,
you will live a long time.
11 I have shown you the way
that makes sense;
I have guided you
along the right path.
12 Your road won't be blocked,
and you won't stumble
when you run.
13 Hold firmly to my teaching
and never let go.
It will mean life for you.
14 Don't follow the bad example
of cruel and evil people.
15 Turn aside and keep going.
Stay away from them.
16 They can't sleep or rest
until they do wrong or harm
some innocent victim.
17 Their food and drink
are cruelty and wickedness.
18 The lifestyle of good people
is like sunlight at dawn
that keeps getting brighter
until broad daylight.
19 The lifestyle of the wicked
is like total darkness,
and they will never know
what makes them stumble.
20 My child, listen carefully
to everything I say.
21 Don't forget a single word,
but think about it all.
22 Knowing these teachings
will mean true life
and good health for you.
23 Carefully guard your thoughts
because they are the source
of true life.
24 Never tell lies or be deceitful
in what you say.
25 Keep looking straight ahead,
without turning aside.
26 (I) Know where you are headed,
and you will stay
on solid ground.
27 Don't make a mistake by turning
to the right or the left.
Footnotes
- 2.7 helpful advice: Or “wisdom.”
Proverbs 2-4
New International Version
Proverbs 2-4
New International Version
Moral Benefits of Wisdom
2 My son,(A) if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding(B)—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight(C)
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,(D)
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.(E)
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;(F)
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.(G)
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield(H) to those whose walk is blameless,(I)
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.(J)
9 Then you will understand(K) what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,(L)
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.(M)
12 Wisdom will save(N) you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,
13 who have left the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,(O)
14 who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,(P)
15 whose paths are crooked(Q)
and who are devious in their ways.(R)
16 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,(S)
from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God.[a](T)
18 Surely her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead.(U)
19 None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life.(V)
20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land,(W)
and the blameless will remain in it;
22 but the wicked(X) will be cut off from the land,(Y)
and the unfaithful will be torn from it.(Z)
Wisdom Bestows Well-Being
3 My son,(AA) do not forget my teaching,(AB)
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years(AC)
and bring you peace and prosperity.(AD)
3 Let love and faithfulness(AE) never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.(AF)
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.(AG)
5 Trust in the Lord(AH) with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths(AI) straight.[b](AJ)
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;(AK)
fear the Lord(AL) and shun evil.(AM)
8 This will bring health to your body(AN)
and nourishment to your bones.(AO)
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits(AP) of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled(AQ) to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.(AR)
11 My son,(AS) do not despise the Lord’s discipline,(AT)
and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,(AU)
as a father the son he delights in.[c](AV)
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.(AW)
15 She is more precious than rubies;(AX)
nothing you desire can compare with her.(AY)
16 Long life is in her right hand;(AZ)
in her left hand are riches and honor.(BA)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.(BB)
18 She is a tree of life(BC) to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.(BD)
19 By wisdom(BE) the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,(BF)
by understanding he set the heavens(BG) in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
21 My son,(BH) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,(BI)
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,(BJ)
an ornament to grace your neck.(BK)
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,(BL)
and your foot will not stumble.(BM)
24 When you lie down,(BN) you will not be afraid;(BO)
when you lie down, your sleep(BP) will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side(BQ)
and will keep your foot(BR) from being snared.(BS)
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.(BT)
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.(BU)
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
when they have done you no harm.
31 Do not envy(BV) the violent
or choose any of their ways.
32 For the Lord detests the perverse(BW)
but takes the upright into his confidence.(BX)
33 The Lord’s curse(BY) is on the house of the wicked,(BZ)
but he blesses the home of the righteous.(CA)
34 He mocks(CB) proud mockers(CC)
but shows favor to the humble(CD) and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.
Get Wisdom at Any Cost
4 Listen, my sons,(CE) to a father’s instruction;(CF)
pay attention and gain understanding.(CG)
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(CH) of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.(CI)
5 Get wisdom,(CJ) get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;(CK)
love her, and she will watch over you.(CL)
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[d] wisdom.
Though it cost all(CM) you have,[e] get understanding.(CN)
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.(CO)
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.(CP)”
10 Listen, my son,(CQ) accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.(CR)
11 I instruct(CS) you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.(CT)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.(CU)
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.(CV)
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.(CW)
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;(CX)
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.(CY)
18 The path of the righteous(CZ) is like the morning sun,(DA)
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.(DB)
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;(DC)
they do not know what makes them stumble.(DD)
20 My son,(DE) pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.(DF)
21 Do not let them out of your sight,(DG)
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.(DH)
23 Above all else, guard(DI) your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.(DJ)
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes(DK) look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[f] paths for your feet(DL)
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;(DM)
keep your foot from evil.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 2:17 Or covenant of her God
- Proverbs 3:6 Or will direct your paths
- Proverbs 3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint loves, / and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child
- Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
- Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get
- Proverbs 4:26 Or Make level
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