| New American Standard Bible 1995 | New International Version |
| 1Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may 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 instruction. | 2I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. |
| 3When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, | 3For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. |
| 4Then he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and 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. |
| 5Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. | 5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. |
| 6"Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. | 6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. |
| 7"The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. | 7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, 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; embrace her, and 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 give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown." |
| 10Hear, my son, and accept my sayings 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 have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths. | 11I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along 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 hampered; 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, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. |
| 14Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men. | 14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. |
| 15Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. | 15Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. |
| 16For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. | 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. |
| 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 morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. |
| 19The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble. | 19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. |
| 20My son, give 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 let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of 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 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. | 23Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. |
| 24Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. | 24Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. |
| 25Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. | 25Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. |
| 26Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. | 26Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. |
| 27Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil. | 27Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot 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 | 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. |
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