| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Listen, children, to your father's instruction, and pay attention in order to gain understanding. | 1Listen, my sons, to a father's discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding, |
| 2I give you sound teaching, so do not abandon my instruction. | 2for I am giving you good instruction. Don't abandon my teaching. |
| 3When I was a son to my father, not yet strong and an only son to my mother, | 3When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother, |
| 4he taught me and told me, "Let your heart fully embrace what I have to say; keep my commandments and 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 or turn aside from the words of my mouth! | 5Get wisdom, get understanding; don't forget or turn away from the words of my mouth. |
| 6Do not abandon her, 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. |
| 7Wisdom is of utmost importance, therefore get wisdom, and with all your effort work to acquire understanding. | 7Wisdom is supreme--so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding. |
| 8Prize her and she will exalt you. Indeed, if you embrace her, she will honor you. | 8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you. |
| 9She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will present to you a crown of beauty." | 9She will place a garland of grace on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty." |
| 10Listen, my son: accept my words, and you'll live a long, long time. | 10Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years. |
| 11I have directed you in the way of wisdom, and I have led you along straight paths. | 11I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths. |
| 12When you walk, your step will not be hindered, and 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 wisdom, because she is your life! | 13Hold on to instruction; don't let go. Guard it, for it is your life. |
| 14Do not enter the path of the wicked, or go along the way of evil men. | 14Don't set foot on the path of the wicked; don't proceed in the way of evil ones. |
| 15Avoid it! Don't travel on it! Turn away from it, and pass on by. | 15Avoid it; don't travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by. |
| 16For they cannot sleep unless they are doing evil, and they are robbed of their sleep unless they cause someone to stumble. | 16For they can't sleep unless they have done what is evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. |
| 17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and they 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 light of dawn that grows brighter until 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, and they do not know what they are stumbling over. | 19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don't know what makes them stumble. |
| 20My son, pay attention to my words, and listen closely to what I say. | 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 healing to their whole body. | 22For they are life to those who find them, and health to one's whole body. |
| 23Above everything else guard your heart, because from it flow the springs of life. | 23Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. |
| 24Never talk deceptively and don't keep company with people whose speech is corrupt. | 24Don't let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don't let your lips talk deviously. |
| 25Let your eyes look directly ahead; fix your gaze straight in front of you. | 25Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. |
| 26Carefully measure the paths for your feet, and all your ways will be established. | 26Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established. |
| 27Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. | 27Don't turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil. |
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