| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. | 1Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. |
| 2For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive. | 2I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. |
| 3When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother, | 3For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. |
| 4he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live. | 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. |
| 5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them. | 5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. |
| 6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you. | 6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. |
| 7Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding. | 7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. |
| 8Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you. | 8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. |
| 9She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.” | 9She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown." |
| 10Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many. | 10Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. |
| 11I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths. | 11I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. |
| 12When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble. | 12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. |
| 13Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life. | 13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. |
| 14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. | 14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. |
| 15Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by. | 15Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. |
| 16For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall. | 16For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble. |
| 17For they 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 first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. | 18The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. |
| 19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble. | 19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. |
| 20My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. | 20My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. |
| 21Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. | 21Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; |
| 22For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body. | 22for they are life to those who find them and health to one's whole body. |
| 23Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life. | 23Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. |
| 24Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech. | 24Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. |
| 25Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. | 25Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. |
| 26Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure. | 26Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. |
| 27Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil. | 27Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. |
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