| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding; | 1Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, |
| 2For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law. | 2for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. |
| 3When I was my father’s son, Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, | 3When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, |
| 4He also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live. | 4he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. |
| 5Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. | 5Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. |
| 6Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. | 6Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. |
| 7Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. | 7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. |
| 8Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. | 8Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. |
| 9She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you.” | 9She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” |
| 10Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. | 10Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. |
| 11I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. | 11I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. |
| 12When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble. | 12When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. |
| 13Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life. | 13Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. |
| 14Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. | 14Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. |
| 15Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on. | 15Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. |
| 16For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. | 16For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. |
| 17For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence. | 17For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. |
| 18But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. | 18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. |
| 19The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble. | 19The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. |
| 20My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. | 20My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. |
| 21Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; | 21Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. |
| 22For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. | 22For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. |
| 23Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. | 23Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. |
| 24Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. | 24Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. |
| 25Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. | 25Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. |
| 26Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. | 26Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. |
| 27Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. | 27Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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