| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, | 1Listen, my sons, to a father's discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding, |
| 2for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. | 2for I am giving you good instruction. Don't abandon my teaching. |
| 3When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, | 3When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother, |
| 4he 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. |
| 5Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. | 5Get wisdom, get understanding; don't forget or turn away from the words of my mouth. |
| 6Do not forsake her, and she will keep 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. |
| 7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. | 7Wisdom is supreme--so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding. |
| 8Prize her highly, 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. |
| 9She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” | 9She will place a garland of grace on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty." |
| 10Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. | 10Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years. |
| 11I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. | 11I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths. |
| 12When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. | 12When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble. |
| 13Keep 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 walk in the way of the evil. | 14Don't set foot on the path of the wicked; don't proceed in the way of evil ones. |
| 15Avoid it; do not go on 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 have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made 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, which shines brighter and brighter until 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 deep 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, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. | 20My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. |
| 21Let them not escape from 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 all their flesh. | 22For they are life to those who find them, and health to one's whole body. |
| 23Keep your heart with all vigilance, 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 crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. | 24Don't let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don't let your lips talk deviously. |
| 25Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. | 25Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. |
| 26Ponder the path of your feet; then 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 foot away from evil. | 27Don't turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil. |
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