| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. | 1Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. |
| 2For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. | 2I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. |
| 3For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. | 3For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. |
| 4He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: 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: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. | 5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. |
| 6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. | 6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. |
| 7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. | 7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. |
| 8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. | 8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. |
| 9She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. | 9She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown." |
| 10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. | 10Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. |
| 11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. | 11I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. |
| 12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. | 12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. |
| 13Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. | 13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. |
| 14Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. | 14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. |
| 15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. | 15Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. |
| 16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. | 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 drink the wine of violence. | 17They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. |
| 18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. | 18The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. |
| 19The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. | 19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. |
| 20My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. | 20My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. |
| 21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. | 21Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; |
| 22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. | 22for they are life to those who find them and health to one's whole body. |
| 23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. | 23Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. |
| 24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. | 24Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. |
| 25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. | 25Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. |
| 26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. | 26Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. |
| 27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. | 27Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. |
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