| New International Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. | 1Listen, my sons, to a father's discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding, |
| 2I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. | 2for I am giving you good instruction. Don't abandon my teaching. |
| 3For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. | 3When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother, |
| 4Then he taught me, and he said to me, "Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. | 4he taught me and said:" Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live. |
| 5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. | 5Get wisdom, get understanding; don't forget or turn away from the words of my mouth. |
| 6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. | 6Don't abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you. |
| 7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. | 7Wisdom is supreme--so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding. |
| 8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. | 8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you. |
| 9She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown." | 9She will place a garland of grace on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty." |
| 10Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. | 10Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years. |
| 11I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. | 11I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths. |
| 12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. | 12When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble. |
| 13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. | 13Hold on to instruction; don't let go. Guard it, for it is your life. |
| 14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. | 14Don't set foot on the path of the wicked; don't proceed in the way of evil ones. |
| 15Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. | 15Avoid it; don't travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by. |
| 16For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble. | 16For they can't sleep unless they have done what is evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. |
| 17They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. | 17They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. |
| 18The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. | 18The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. |
| 19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. | 19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don't know what makes them stumble. |
| 20My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. | 20My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. |
| 21Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; | 21Don't lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. |
| 22for they are life to those who find them and health to one's whole body. | 22For they are life to those who find them, and health to one's whole body. |
| 23Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. | 23Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. |
| 24Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. | 24Don't let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don't let your lips talk deviously. |
| 25Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. | 25Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. |
| 26Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. | 26Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established. |
| 27Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. | 27Don't turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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