Proverbs

A Father’s Instruction

1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;pay attention and gain understanding.

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 wickedor walk in the way of evildoers.

15Avoid it; do not travel on it.Turn from it and pass on by.

16For they cannot sleepunless they do evil;they are deprived of slumberuntil they make someone fall.

17For they eat the bread of wickednessand 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.

智慧的益处

1众子啊，要听父亲的教训， 留心得知聪明。

2因我所给你们的是好教训； 不可离弃我的法则。

3我在父亲面前为孝子， 在母亲眼中为独一的娇儿。

4父亲教训我说：你心要存记我的言语， 遵守我的命令，便得存活。

5要得智慧，要得聪明，不可忘记， 也不可偏离我口中的言语。

6不可离弃智慧，智慧就护卫你； 要爱她，她就保守你。

7智慧为首； 所以，要得智慧。 在你一切所得之内必得聪明。

8高举智慧，她就使你高升； 怀抱智慧，她就使你尊荣。

9她必将华冠加在你头上， 把荣冕交给你。

10我儿，你要听受我的言语， 就必延年益寿。

11我已指教你走智慧的道， 引导你行正直的路。

12你行走，脚步必不致狭窄； 你奔跑，也不致跌倒。

13要持定训诲，不可放松； 必当谨守，因为它是你的生命。

14不可行恶人的路； 不要走坏人的道。

15要躲避，不可经过； 要转身而去。

16这等人若不行恶，不得睡觉； 不使人跌倒，睡卧不安；

17因为他们以奸恶吃饼， 以强暴喝酒。

18但义人的路好像黎明的光， 越照越明，直到日午。

19恶人的道好像幽暗， 自己不知因什么跌倒。

20我儿，要留心听我的言词， 侧耳听我的话语，

21都不可离你的眼目， 要存记在你心中。

22因为得着它的，就得了生命， 又得了医全体的良药。

23你要保守你心，胜过保守一切， 因为一生的果效是由心发出。

24你要除掉邪僻的口， 弃绝乖谬的嘴。

25你的眼目要向前正看； 你的眼睛当向前直观。

26要修平你脚下的路， 坚定你一切的道。

27不可偏向左右； 要使你的脚离开邪恶。