| English Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, | 1Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding, |
| 2for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. | 2For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction. |
| 3When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, | 3When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, |
| 4he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. | 4Then he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live; |
| 5Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. | 5Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. |
| 6Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. | 6"Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. |
| 7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. | 7"The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. |
| 8Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. | 8"Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her. |
| 9She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” | 9"She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty." |
| 10Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. | 10Hear, my son, and accept my sayings And the years of your life will be many. |
| 11I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. | 11I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright 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 impeded; And if you run, you will not stumble. |
| 13Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. | 13Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life. |
| 14Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. | 14Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men. |
| 15Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. | 15Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. |
| 16For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. | 16For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. |
| 17For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. | 17For they 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. | 18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. |
| 19The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. | 19The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble. |
| 20My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. | 20My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. |
| 21Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. | 21Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of 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 all their body. |
| 23Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. | 23Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. |
| 24Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. | 24Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. |
| 25Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. | 25Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. |
| 26Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. | 26Watch the path of 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. | 27Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | 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 |
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