| International Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 1Listen, children, to your father's instruction, and pay attention in order to gain understanding. | 1My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment, |
| 2I give you sound teaching, so do not abandon my instruction. | 2for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions. |
| 3When I was a son to my father, not yet strong and an only son to my mother, | 3For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child. |
| 4he taught me and told me, "Let your heart fully embrace what I have to say; keep my commandments and live! | 4My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live. |
| 5Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget or turn aside from the words of my mouth! | 5Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t 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. | 6Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. |
| 7Wisdom is of utmost importance, therefore get wisdom, and with all your effort work to acquire understanding. | 7Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. |
| 8Prize her and she will exalt you. Indeed, if you embrace her, she will honor you. | 8If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. 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 place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.” |
| 10Listen, my son: accept my words, and you'll live a long, long time. | 10My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. |
| 11I have directed you in the way of wisdom, and I have led you along straight paths. | 11I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. |
| 12When you walk, your step will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble. | 12When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble. |
| 13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go! Guard wisdom, because she is your life! | 13Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. |
| 14Do not enter the path of the wicked, or go along the way of evil men. | 14Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. |
| 15Avoid it! Don't travel on it! Turn away from it, and pass on by. | 15Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving. |
| 16For they cannot sleep unless they are doing evil, and they are robbed of their sleep unless they cause someone to stumble. | 16For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day. They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble. |
| 17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and they drink the wine of violence. | 17They eat the food 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 way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until 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 total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over. |
| 20My son, pay attention to my words, and listen closely to what I say. | 20My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. |
| 21Do not let them out of your sight; keep them within your heart. | 21Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, |
| 22For they are life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. | 22for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. |
| 23Above everything else guard your heart, because from it flow the springs of life. | 23Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. |
| 24Never talk deceptively and don't keep company with people whose speech is corrupt. | 24Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. |
| 25Let your eyes look directly ahead; fix your gaze straight in front of you. | 25Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. |
| 26Carefully measure the paths for your feet, and all your ways will be established. | 26Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. |
| 27Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. | 27Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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