| New Living Translation | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment, | 1Listen, my sons, to a father's discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding, |
| 2for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions. | 2for I am giving you good instruction. Don't abandon my teaching. |
| 3For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child. | 3When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother, |
| 4My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live. | 4he taught me and said:" Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live. |
| 5Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. | 5Get wisdom, get understanding; don't forget or turn away from the words of my mouth. |
| 6Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. | 6Don't abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you. |
| 7Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. | 7Wisdom is supreme--so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding. |
| 8If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you. | 8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you. |
| 9She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.” | 9She will place a garland of grace on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty." |
| 10My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. | 10Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years. |
| 11I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. | 11I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths. |
| 12When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble. | 12When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble. |
| 13Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. | 13Hold on to instruction; don't let go. Guard it, for it is your life. |
| 14Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. | 14Don't set foot on the path of the wicked; don't proceed in the way of evil ones. |
| 15Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving. | 15Avoid it; don't travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by. |
| 16For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day. They can’t rest until they’ve caused 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. |
| 17They eat the food of wickedness and drink the wine of violence! | 17They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. |
| 18The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever 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 total darkness. They have no idea 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 child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. | 20My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. |
| 21Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, | 21Don't lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. |
| 22for they bring 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. |
| 23Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. | 23Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. |
| 24Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. | 24Don't let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don't let your lips talk deviously. |
| 25Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. | 25Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. |
| 26Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. | 26Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established. |
| 27Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. | 27Don't turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil. |
| Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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