| New International Version | New Living Translation |
| 1Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. | 1My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment, |
| 2I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. | 2for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions. |
| 3For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. | 3For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child. |
| 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. | 4My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live. |
| 5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. | 5Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. |
| 6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. | 6Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. |
| 7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. | 7Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. |
| 8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. | 8If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and 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 lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.” |
| 10Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. | 10My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. |
| 11I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. | 11I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. |
| 12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. | 12When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble. |
| 13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. | 13Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. |
| 14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. | 14Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. |
| 15Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. | 15Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving. |
| 16For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble. | 16For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day. They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble. |
| 17They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. | 17They eat the food 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 way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. |
| 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 total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over. |
| 20My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. | 20My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. |
| 21Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; | 21Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, |
| 22for they are life to those who find them and health to one's whole body. | 22for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. |
| 23Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. | 23Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. |
| 24Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. | 24Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. |
| 25Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. | 25Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. |
| 26Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. | 26Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. |
| 27Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. | 27Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following 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. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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