Online Bible

Book of Proverbs, Chapter 4

Twitter · Facebook
Proverbs 4 NASB - New American Standard BibleProverbs 4 NASB - New American Standard Bible

Chapter 4 of Proverbs—New American Standard Bible (NASB)

  1. ¶ Hear, O sons, the 1instruction of a father,
    And 2give attention that you may [a]gain understanding,
  2. For I give you [b]sound 3teaching;
    4Do not abandon my [c]instruction.
  3. When I was a son to my father,
    5Tender and 6the only son in the sight of my mother,
  4. Then he 7taught me and said to me,
    “Let your heart 8hold fast my words;
    9Keep my commandments and live;
  5. 10Acquire wisdom! 11Acquire understanding!
    Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
  6. “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;
    12Love her, and she will watch over you.
  7. “13The [d]beginning of wisdom is: 14Acquire wisdom;
    And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
  8. “15Prize her, and she will exalt you;
    She will honor you if you embrace her.
  9. “She will place 16on your head a garland of grace;
    She will present you with a crown of beauty.”
  10. ¶ Hear, my son, and 17accept my sayings
    And the 18years of your life will be many.
  11. I have 19directed you in the way of wisdom;
    I have led you in upright paths.
  12. When you walk, your 20steps will not be impeded;
    And if you run, you 21will not stumble.
  13. 22Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
    Guard her, for she is your 23life.
  14. 24Do not enter the path of the wicked
    And do not proceed in the way of evil men.
  15. Avoid it, do not pass by it;
    Turn away from it and pass on.
  16. For they 25cannot sleep unless they do evil;
    And [e]they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
  17. For they 26eat the bread of wickedness
    And drink the wine of violence.
  18. But the 27path of the righteous is like the 28light of dawn,
    That 29shines brighter and brighter until the 30full day.
  19. The 31way of the wicked is like darkness;
    They do not know over what they [f]32stumble.
  20. ¶ My son, 33give attention to my words;
    34Incline your ear to my sayings.
  21. 35Do not let them depart from your sight;
    36Keep them in the midst of your heart.
  22. For they are 37life to those who find them
    And 38health to all [g]their body.
  23. Watch over your heart with all diligence,
    For 39from it flow the springs of life.
  24. Put away from you a 40deceitful mouth
    And 41put devious [h]speech far from you.
  25. Let your eyes look directly ahead
    And let your [i]gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
  26. 42Watch the path of your feet
    And all your 43ways will be established.
  27. 44Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
    45Turn your foot from evil.

FOOTNOTES

  1. ^ Lit know
  2. ^ Lit good
  3. ^ Or law
  4. ^ Or the primary thing is wisdom
  5. ^ Lit their sleep is robbed
  6. ^ Or may stumble
  7. ^ Lit his
  8. ^ Or lips
  9. ^ Or eyelids

REFERENCES

  1. ^ Ps 34:11; Pr 1:8
  2. ^ Pr 1:2; 2:2
  3. ^ De 32:2; Jb 11:4
  4. ^ Ps 89:30; 119:87; Pr 3:1
  5. ^ 1Ch 22:5; 29:1
  6. ^ Zc 12:10
  7. ^ Eph 6:4
  8. ^ Ps 119:168
  9. ^ Pr 7:2
  10. ^ Pr 4:7
  11. ^ Pr 16:16
  12. ^ 2Th 2:10
  13. ^ Pr 8:23
  14. ^ Pr 23:23
  15. ^ 1Sa 2:30
  16. ^ Pr 1:9
  17. ^ Pr 2:1
  18. ^ Pr 3:2
  19. ^ 1Sa 12:23
  20. ^ Jb 18:7; Ps 18:36
  21. ^ Ps 91:11; Pr 3:23
  22. ^ Pr 3:18
  23. ^ Pr 3:22; Jn 6:63
  24. ^ Ps 1:1; Pr 1:15
  25. ^ Ps 36:4; Mc 2:1
  26. ^ Pr 13:2
  27. ^ Is 26:7; Mt 5:14; Pp 2:15
  28. ^ 2Sa 23:4
  29. ^ Da 12:3
  30. ^ Jb 11:17
  31. ^ Jb 18:5, 6; Pr 2:13; Is 59:9, 10; Je 23:12; Jn 12:35
  32. ^ Jn 11:10
  33. ^ Pr 5:1
  34. ^ Pr 2:2
  35. ^ Pr 3:21
  36. ^ Pr 7:1, 2
  37. ^ Pr 3:22
  38. ^ Pr 3:8; 12:18
  39. ^ Mt 12:34; 15:18, 19; Mr 7:21; Lu 6:45
  40. ^ Pr 6:12; 10:32
  41. ^ Pr 19:1
  42. ^ Pr 5:21; Heb 12:13
  43. ^ Ps 119:5
  44. ^ De 5:32; 28:14
  45. ^ Pr 1:15; Is 1:16

Read Proverbs Chapter 4 in other Bible versions:

Comments

  1. David yakubuDavid yakubu
    Oct 29, 2022 08:05 GMT

    When i do read some comments and seeing that its the same people that are supposed to be called believers but are talking ill of other denominations, it hurts. Let us all remember that We should judge not

    1. jonas smithjonas smith
      Apr 23, 2023 02:57 GMT

      The bible tells us to test the spirits. Satan disguises himself as angel of light. So yes some denomination are not teaching the truth. You are responsible for judging which ones are not. You have to judge the truth at all times. this is what the bible teaches

  2. THTH
    Apr 7, 2021 00:20 GMT

    The NWT is a very good translation. Dr. Jason David BeDuhn PhD attests to that in his book Truth in Translation. drive.google.com/...5p16melHzg8/view

    1. James LernerJames Lerner
      Jul 20, 2024 09:48 GMT

      The NWT is Satanic filth to its very core.

      The JW Cult is Satanic to its very core.

      Praise Yahweh I will never be a victim of JW brainwashing. If I burn in Hell for eternity or I am ultimately annihilated so be it

      May Yahweh's curse rest on the Watchtower Society and its Satanic leadership

    2. jim mcleodjim mcleod
      Aug 22, 2021 06:16 GMT

      NWT is a false translation that takes away from the deity of Jesus !

  3. SlightlyChaoticSlightlyChaotic
    Jan 30, 2021 16:33 GMT

    Thank you for taking the time to provide this service. I like seeing the NASB on your web page in the same format as I read on paper. On other sites, the text area is smaller, and so I have to keep scrolling down to read and sometimes I lose the context. So I really appreciate the format.

    As far as the NWT, you are certainly free to do whatever you think best with your own web pages. I'd suggest that you make a note anytime you have a translation that is associated with only one denomination or church, for example:
    New World Translation (Jehovah's Witness version).

    In Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares. the main idea seems to be that you can't easily distinguish between God's people and not-God's people on this earth, so our Lord's response is to wait until they are shown to be the kind of people they are inside. But the NWT seems like false teaching to me. So I think the warning passages from Jesus' apostles are more applicable, as in 2 Peter 3:15-16, when he talks about Paul's writings:
    "There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures."
    And we also have the positive exhortations, as in 2 Timothy 2:15:
    "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

    1. BroderickBroderick
      Jan 31, 2021 00:57 GMT

      Your suggestion regarding the denominational flagging is duly noted. But I can’t help but wonder, wouldn’t a Catholic also want “Protestant versions” marked as well?

      As for the parable, I’m pretty sure the slaves were convinced in their own minds that they could tell the tares from the wheat. After all, aren’t they the ones who identified the problem in the first place? But the master obviously thought otherwise.

      Furthermore, even at the time when Jesus himself was walking the earth, not everybody who claimed fellowship actually followed him causing John to inquire at Mark 9:39, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him . . . for he who is not against us is for us.”

  4. Joshua HarderJoshua Harder
    Dec 11, 2020 17:48 GMT

    Hello, question.. why have you included the NWT with other legitimate bible translations? Or why have you not atleast included a warning to readers? Don't you fear that someone could be influenced by the Watchtower's intentional heresies? Thank you.

    1. KevinKevin
      Jul 11, 2021 17:45 GMT

      en.m.wikipedia.org/..._Holy_Scriptures

      See the section critical review

    2. ChrisChris
      Jan 8, 2021 07:15 GMT

      Please site these intentional heresies. I am well versed in the watch tower outline and agree they are in many ways incorrect but i also bet i can point many out from EVERY established or main denomination. There is much to learn from them all as one who drinks milk?

      Judge not lest ye be judged, that is not to pass judgement on you either brother.

      I debate with scripture. I don't hold it to be true that Michael is Y'Shua HaMeshiach but I also firmly hold it to be true that our G-d and Heavenly Father are not the word encarnate and only begotten son.

      I love not seeing "lord" which i relate to baal. I feel the catholic church is a satanic establishment and I am aware a freemason started the hovies but there are evil in high places and our fight is also with principalities.

      What i'm saying is that in my darkest hours, those two were some of if not the only ones who would bring a Bible and eucharist and pray with me.

      We all fall short of the glory of G-d.

      Don't forget the NWT was recognized as the most accurate translation on Jeopardy.

      Lastly, this is different I noted than the NWT i have read and am very familiar with. Pull up the watchtower page and compare. I truly look forward to getting this one!

  5. julietjuliet
    Aug 17, 2022 09:36 GMT

    the sky is blue

  6. mercymercy
    Aug 12, 2022 21:23 GMT

    i am Mercy, the sky is blue what else do you need

    1. mercymercy
      Aug 12, 2022 21:25 GMT

      i am so sorry, it was a big mistake

  7. God is able to do all thingsGod is able to do all things
    May 17, 2021 17:59 GMT

    Jesus how much love calling yo name

  • Showing 1 - 7 of 7
NOTE: You are replying to 's comment. [Cancel]