Proverbs 4

Proverbs · Chapter 4

Proverbs 4:11

1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.2For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.3For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.4He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.5Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.9She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.13Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.14Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.19The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.20My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
in [the] way ofבְּדֶ֣רֶךְbe-DE-rekhH1870G
way: conduct

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) : conduct/lifestyle 1) way, road, distance, journey, manner 1a) road, way, path 1b) journey 1c) direction 1d) manner, habit, way 1e) of course of life (fig.) 1f) of moral character (fig.)

wisdomחָ֭כְמָהchokh-mahH2451
wisdom

חׇכְמָה (chokh.mah) 1) wisdom 1a) skill (in war) 1b) wisdom (in administration) 1c) shrewdness, wisdom 1d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs) 1e) wisdom (ethical and religious)

I taught youהֹרֵתִ֑יךָho-re-TI-khaH3384B
to show

יָרָה (ya.rah) 1) to point out, show 1b) to direct, teach, instruct

I led youהִ֝דְרַכְתִּ֗יךָhid-rakh-TI-khaH1869
to tread

דָּרַךְ (da.rakh) 1) to tread, bend, lead, march 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to tread, march, march forth 1a2) to tread on, tread upon 1a3) to tread (a press) 1a4) to tread (bend) a bow 1a5) archer, bow-benders (participle) 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to tread, tread down 1b2) to tread (bend with the foot) a bow 1b3) to cause to go, lead, march, tread

in tracks ofבְּמַעְגְּלֵי־be-ma'-ge-lei-H4570
track

מַעְגָּל (ma.gal) 1) entrenchment, track 1a) circumvallation, entrenchment 1b) track

uprightnessיֹֽשֶׁר׃YO-sherH3476
uprightness

יֹ֫שֶׁר (yo.sher) 1) straightness, uprightness 1a) straightness, evenness (moral implications) 1b) rightness, uprightness 1c) what is right, what is due

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.