| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and 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 directive. | 2for I am giving you good instruction. Don't abandon my teaching. |
| 3When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother, | 3When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother, |
| 4he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep 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, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them. | 5Get wisdom, get understanding; don't forget or turn away from the words of my mouth. |
| 6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve 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. |
| 7Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding. | 7Wisdom is supreme--so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding. |
| 8Prize her, and she will exalt you; 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 set a garland of grace on your head; 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." |
| 10Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many. | 10Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years. |
| 11I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight 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; 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 go. Guard it, for it is your life. | 13Hold on to instruction; don't let go. Guard it, for it is your life. |
| 14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. | 14Don't set foot on the path of the wicked; don't proceed in the way of evil ones. |
| 15Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn 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 do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall. | 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. |
| 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 light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. |
| 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 the darkest gloom; they don't know what makes them stumble. |
| 20My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. | 20My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. |
| 21Do not lose sight of them; 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 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. | 23Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. |
| 24Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech. | 24Don't let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don't let your lips talk deviously. |
| 25Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. | 25Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. |
| 26Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure. | 26Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established. |
| 27Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil. | 27Don't turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil. |
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