Proverbs 4

Proverbs · Chapter 4

Proverbs 4:16

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
16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

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
forכִּ֤יkiH3588A
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

notלֹ֣אlo'H3808
not

לֹא (lo) 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

they will sleepיִֽ֭שְׁנוּYISH-nuH3462
to sleep

יָשֵׁן (ya.shen) 1) to sleep, be asleep 1a) (Qal) to sleep, go to sleep, be asleep 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to remain a long time, be stored up 1b2) to be festering (of leprosy) 1c) (Piel) to cause to sleep, entice to sleep

ifאִם־'im-H0518JNo entry
notלֹ֣אlo'H3808
not

לֹא (lo) 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

they do harmיָרֵ֑עוּya-RE-'uH7489A
be evil

רָעַע (ra.a) 1) to be bad, be evil 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to be displeasing 1a2) to be sad 1a3) to be injurious, be evil 1a4) to be wicked, be evil (ethically) 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to do an injury or hurt 1b2) to do evil or wickedly 1b3) mischief (participle)

and it is taken awayוְֽנִגְזְלָ֥הve-nig-ze-LAHH1497
to plunder

גָּזַל (ga.zal) 1) to tear away, seize, plunder, tear off, pull off, rob, take away by force 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to tear away, rob 1a2) to seize, plunder (with acc cognate) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be robbed 1b2) to be taken away

sleep theirשְׁ֝נָתָ֗םSHE-na-TAMH8142
sleep

שְׁנָה (she.nah) sleep Aramaic of she.nah (שֵׁנָה "sleep" H8142)

ifאִם־'im-H0518JNo entry
notלֹ֥אlo'H3808
not

לֹא (lo) 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

they bring injuryיַכְשִֽׁילוּ׃yikh-sho-luH3782
to stumble

כָּשַׁל (ka.shal) 1) to stumble, stagger, totter 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stumble 1a2) to totter 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to stumble 1b2) to be tottering, be feeble 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to stumble, bring injury or ruin to, overthrow 1c2) to make feeble, make weak 1d) (Hophal) to be made to stumble 1e) (Piel) bereave

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