---
title: "Proverbs 4 — World English Bible | Favorite Scriptures"
description: "Read Proverbs 4 in the World English Bible. Free Bible reading, no account needed. Browse books and chapters, then save favorite passages in your personal library."
last_updated: "2026-10-08"
doc_version: "1"
language: "en"
canonical: "https://favoritescriptures.com/bible/proverbs/4"
---

[Home](/)/[Bible](/bible)/[Proverbs](/bible/proverbs)/4

World English Bible

# Proverbs 4

[1](#verse-1) Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;

[2](#verse-2) for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.

[3](#verse-3) For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.

[4](#verse-4) He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.

[5](#verse-5) Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.

[6](#verse-6) Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.

[7](#verse-7) Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.

[8](#verse-8) Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.

[9](#verse-9) She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”

[10](#verse-10) Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.

[11](#verse-11) I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.

[12](#verse-12) When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.

[13](#verse-13) Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.

[14](#verse-14) Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.

[15](#verse-15) Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.

[16](#verse-16) For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.

[17](#verse-17) For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

[18](#verse-18) But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.

[19](#verse-19) The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.

[20](#verse-20) My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.

[21](#verse-21) Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.

[22](#verse-22) For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.

[23](#verse-23) Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.

[24](#verse-24) Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.

[25](#verse-25) Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.

[26](#verse-26) Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.

[27](#verse-27) Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.

[← Proverbs 3](/bible/proverbs/3)[Proverbs 5 →](/bible/proverbs/5)

World English Bible · Public domain

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