| New American Standard Bible 1995 | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding, | 1Listen, my sons, to a father's discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding, |
| 2For I give you sound teaching; 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, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, | 3When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother, |
| 4Then he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live; | 4he taught me and said:" Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live. |
| 5Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. | 5Get wisdom, get understanding; don't forget or turn away from the words of my mouth. |
| 6"Do not forsake her, and she will guard 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. |
| 7"The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. | 7Wisdom is supreme--so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding. |
| 8"Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her. | 8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you. |
| 9"She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty." | 9She will place a garland of grace on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty." |
| 10Hear, my son, and accept my sayings And the years of your life will be many. | 10Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years. |
| 11I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths. | 11I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths. |
| 12When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; And if you run, you will not stumble. | 12When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble. |
| 13Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for 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 And do not proceed in 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, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. | 15Avoid it; don't travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by. |
| 16For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless 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. |
| 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. |
| 18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. | 18The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. |
| 19The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble. | 19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don't know what makes them stumble. |
| 20My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. | 20My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. |
| 21Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of 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 all their body. | 22For they are life to those who find them, and health to one's whole body. |
| 23Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. | 23Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. |
| 24Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. | 24Don't let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don't let your lips talk deviously. |
| 25Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. | 25Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. |
| 26Watch the path of 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 nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil. | 27Don't turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil. |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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