| International Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1Listen, children, to your father's instruction, and pay attention in order to gain understanding. | 1Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. |
| 2I give you sound teaching, so do not abandon my instruction. | 2I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. |
| 3When I was a son to my father, not yet strong and an only son to my mother, | 3For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by 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 he said to me, "Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. |
| 5Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget or turn aside from the words of my mouth! | 5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. |
| 6Do not abandon her, and she will protect you. Love her, and she will watch over you. | 6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect 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. | 7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. |
| 8Prize her and she will exalt you. Indeed, if you embrace her, she will honor you. | 8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. |
| 9She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will present to you a crown of beauty." | 9She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown." |
| 10Listen, my son: accept my words, and you'll live a long, long time. | 10Listen, my son, accept what I say, 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 instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight 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 hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. |
| 13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go! Guard wisdom, because she is your life! | 13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. |
| 14Do not enter the path of the wicked, or go along the way of evil men. | 14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. |
| 15Avoid it! Don't travel on it! Turn away from it, and pass on by. | 15Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. |
| 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 rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble. |
| 17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and they 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 light of dawn that grows brighter until the full light of day. | 18The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. |
| 19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness, and they do not know what they are stumbling over. | 19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. |
| 20My son, pay attention to my words, and listen closely to what I say. | 20My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. |
| 21Do not let them out of your sight; keep them within your heart. | 21Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within 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 one's whole body. |
| 23Above everything else guard your heart, because from it flow the springs of life. | 23Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. |
| 24Never talk deceptively and don't keep company with people whose speech is corrupt. | 24Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. |
| 25Let your eyes look directly ahead; fix your gaze straight in front of you. | 25Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. |
| 26Carefully measure the paths for your feet, and all your ways will be established. | 26Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. |
| 27Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. | 27Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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