4:1 孩子，你们要听父亲的教训，专心学习明智，
Hear, O children, a father’s instruction, be attentive, that you may gain understanding! 4:2 因为我把好教训授给你们，你们不要拋弃我的规劝。
Yes, excellent advice I give you; my teaching do not forsake. 4:3 我也曾在父亲面前作过孝子，在我母亲膝下是唯一的娇儿。
When I was my father’s child, frail, yet the darling of my mother, 4:4 我父曾训诲我说：你应留心牢记我的话，遵守我的命令，好使你生存；
He taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart hold fast my words: keep my commands, that you may live! 4:5 你应紧握智慧，握住明智，不要忘记，也不要离弃我口中的教训：
"Get wisdom, get understanding! Do not forget or turn aside from the words I utter. 4:6 你若不舍弃她，她必护佑你；你若喜爱她，她必看顾你。
Forsake her not, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will safeguard you; 4:7 首先应争取的是智慧，因此你应寻求智慧，应牺牲一切去争取明智。
The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom; at the cost of all you have, get understanding. 4:8 你若显扬智慧，智慧也必显扬你；你若怀抱她，她也必光荣你：
Extol her, and she will exalt you; she will bring you honors if you embrace her; 4:9 将华冠加在你的头上，将荣冕赐给你。
She will put on your head a graceful diadem; a glorious crown will she bestow on you." 4:10 我儿，你若听取我的训言，你必延年益寿。
Hear, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life shall be many. 4:11 我要教给你智慧的道路，引你走上正直的途径：
On the way of wisdom I direct you, I lead you on straightforward paths. 4:12 这样，你若行走，你的脚决不会受阻碍；即便你奔驰，也决不致颠仆。
When you walk, your step will not be impeded, and should you run, you will not stumble. 4:13 你要坚持教训，切勿把她拋弃；你应保存她，因为她是你的生命。
Hold fast to instruction, never let her go; keep her, for she is your life. 4:14 恶人的道路，你不要进去；坏人的途径，你不要踏入；
The path of the wicked enter not, walk not on the way of evil men; 4:15 反应躲避，不经其上；远远离去，绕道他往。
Shun it, cross it not, turn aside from it, and pass on. 4:16 因为他们不作恶，不能入睡；不使人跌倒，就要失眠。
For they cannot rest unless they have done evil; to have made no one stumble steals away their sleep. 4:17 他们吃的是邪恶的饼，饮的是暴虐的酒。
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. 4:18 但是，义人的途径，象黎明的曙光，越来越明亮，直至成日中；
The way of the wicked is like darkness; they know not on what they stumble. 4:19 恶人的道路，却宛如幽暗，他们不知道，要跌在何处。
But the path of the just is like shining light, that grows in brilliance till perfect day. 4:20 我儿，你要注意我的训言，侧耳倾听我的教导；
My son, to my words be attentive, to my sayings incline your ear; 4:21 不要让她离开你的视线，却要牢记在心中。
Let them not slip out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 4:22 因为，凡找着她的，必获得生命；他整个身躯，必获得健康。
For they are life to those who find them, to man’s whole being they are health. 4:23 在一切之上，你要谨守你的心，因为生命是由此而生。
With closest custody, guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life. 4:24 你应摒绝口舌的欺诈，远避唇舌的乖谬。
Put away from you dishonest talk, deceitful speech put far from you. 4:25 你的眼睛应向前直视，你的视线应向前集中。
Let your eyes look straight ahead and your glance be directly forward. 4:26 你要修平你脚下的行径，要巩固你一切的路途。
Survey the path for your feet, and let all your ways be sure. 4:27 你断不可左倾右依，务使你的脚远离邪恶。
Turn neither to right nor to left, keep your foot far from evil.