| International Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Listen, children, to your father's instruction, and pay attention in order to gain understanding. | 1Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding, |
| 2I give you sound teaching, so do not abandon my instruction. | 2For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction. |
| 3When I was a son to my father, not yet strong and an only son to 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 told me, "Let your heart fully embrace what I have to say; 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 understanding! Do not forget or turn aside from the words of my mouth! | 5Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. |
| 6Do not abandon her, and she will protect you. Love her, and she will watch over you. | 6"Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. |
| 7Wisdom is of utmost importance, therefore get wisdom, and with all your effort work to acquire understanding. | 7"The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. |
| 8Prize her and she will exalt you. Indeed, if you embrace her, she will honor you. | 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 present to you a crown of beauty." | 9"She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty." |
| 10Listen, my son: accept my words, and you'll live a long, long time. | 10Hear, my son, and accept my sayings And the years of your life will be many. |
| 11I have directed you in the way of wisdom, and I have led you along straight paths. | 11I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths. |
| 12When you walk, your step will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble. | 12When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; And if you run, you will not stumble. |
| 13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go! Guard wisdom, because 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, or go along the way of evil men. | 14Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men. |
| 15Avoid it! Don't travel on it! Turn away from it, and pass on by. | 15Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. |
| 16For they cannot sleep unless they are doing evil, and they are robbed of their sleep unless they cause someone to 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 they drink the wine of violence. | 17For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence. |
| 18The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn that grows brighter until the full light of day. | 18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. |
| 19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness, and they do not know what they are stumbling over. | 19The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble. |
| 20My son, pay attention to my words, and listen closely to what I say. | 20My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. |
| 21Do not let them out of 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 their whole body. | 22For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body. |
| 23Above everything else guard your heart, because from it flow the springs of life. | 23Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. |
| 24Never talk deceptively and don't keep company with people whose speech is corrupt. | 24Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. |
| 25Let your eyes look directly ahead; fix your gaze straight in front of you. | 25Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. |
| 26Carefully measure the paths for your feet, and all your ways will be established. | 26Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. |
| 27Do not turn 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. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | 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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