| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. | 1Listen, children, to a father's instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain discernment. |
| 2I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. | 2Because I give you good instruction, do not forsake my teaching. |
| 3For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. | 3When I was a son to my father, a tender only child before my mother, |
| 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. | 4he taught me, and he said to me: "Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands so that you will live. |
| 5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. | 5Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak. |
| 6Do not forsake wisdom, 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 guard you. |
| 7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. | 7Wisdom is supreme--so acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding! |
| 8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. | 8Esteem her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. |
| 9She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown." | 9She will place a fair garland on your head; she will bestow a beautiful crown on you." |
| 10Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. | 10Listen, my child, and accept my words, so that the years of your life will be many. |
| 11I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. | 11I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths. |
| 12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. | 12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and when you run, you will not stumble. |
| 13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. | 13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; protect it, because it is your life. |
| 14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. | 14Do not enter the path of the wicked or walk in the way of those who are evil. |
| 15Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. | 15Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it, and go on. |
| 16For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble. | 16For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; they are robbed of sleep until they make someone stumble. |
| 17They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. | 17For they eat bread gained from wickedness and drink wine obtained from violence. |
| 18The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. | 18But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing brighter and brighter until full day. |
| 19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. | 19The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness; they do not know what causes them to stumble. |
| 20My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. | 20My child, pay attention to my words; listen attentively to my sayings. |
| 21Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; | 21Do not let them depart from your sight, guard them within your heart; |
| 22for they are life to those who find them and health to one's whole body. | 22for they are life to those who find them and healing to one's entire body. |
| 23Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. | 23Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life. |
| 24Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. | 24Remove perverse speech from your mouth; keep devious talk far from your lips. |
| 25Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. | 25Let your eyes look directly in front of you and let your gaze look straight before you. |
| 26Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. | 26Make the path for your feet level, so that all your ways may be established. |
| 27Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. | 27Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn yourself away from evil. |
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