Proverbs 4

Proverbs · Chapter 4

Proverbs 4:13

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
13Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life.

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
take holdהַחֲזֵ֣קha-cha-ZEKH2388H
to strengthen: strengthen

חָזַק (cha.zaq) : strengthen/support/encourage 1) to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be strong, grow strong 1a1a) to prevail, prevail upon 1a1b) to be firm, be caught fast, be secure 1a1c) to press, be urgent 1a1d) to grow stout, grow rigid, grow hard (bad sense) 1a1e) to be severe, be grievous 1a2) to strengthen 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to make strong 1b2) to restore to strength, give strength 1b3) to strengthen, sustain, encourage 1b4) to make strong, make bold, encourage 1b5) to make firm 1b6) to make rigid, make hard …

on the disciplineבַּמּוּסָ֣רba-mu-SARH4148H
discipline

מוּסָר (mu.sar) : discipline/punishment 1) discipline, chastening, correction 1a) discipline, correction 1b) chastening

may notאַל־'al-H0408
not

אַל (al) 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

you let goתֶּ֑רֶףTE-refH7503
to slacken

רָפָה (ra.phah) 1) to sink, relax, sink down, let drop, be disheartened 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sink down 1a2) to sink, drop 1a3) to sink, relax, abate 1a4) to relax, withdraw 1b) (Niphal) idle (participle) 1c) (Piel) to let drop 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to let drop, abandon, relax, refrain, forsake 1d2) to let go 1d3) to refrain, let alone 1d4) to be quiet 1e) (Hithpael) to show oneself slack

keep herנִ֝צְּרֶ֗הָni-tze-RE-haH5341
to watch

נָצַר (na.tsar) 1) to guard, watch, watch over, keep 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to watch, guard, keep 1a2) to preserve, guard from dangers 1a3) to keep, observe, guard with fidelity 1a4) to guard, keep secret 1a5) to be kept close, be blockaded 1a6) watchman (participle)

forכִּי־ki-H3588A
for

כִּי (ki) 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

sheהִ֥יאhi'H1931
he/she/it

הוּא (hu) pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)

[is] life yourחַיֶּֽיךָ׃chai-YEI-khaH2416E
life

חַיִּים (chay.yim) 1) life (abstract emphatic) 1a) life 1b) sustenance, maintenance

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