| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding; | 1Listen, children, to a father's instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain discernment. |
| 2For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law. | 2Because I give you good instruction, do not forsake my teaching. |
| 3When I was my father’s son, Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, | 3When I was a son to my father, a tender only child before my mother, |
| 4He also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and 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, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. | 5Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak. |
| 6Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. | 6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will guard you. |
| 7Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. | 7Wisdom is supreme--so acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding! |
| 8Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. | 8Esteem her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. |
| 9She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you.” | 9She will place a fair garland on your head; she will bestow a beautiful crown on you." |
| 10Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, 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 have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right 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 hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble. | 12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and when you run, you will not stumble. |
| 13Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life. | 13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; protect it, because it is your life. |
| 14Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. | 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 away from it and pass on. | 15Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it, and go on. |
| 16For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. | 16For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; they are robbed of sleep until they make someone stumble. |
| 17For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence. | 17For they eat bread gained from wickedness and drink wine obtained from violence. |
| 18But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. | 18But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing brighter and brighter until full day. |
| 19The way of the wicked is like 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, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. | 20My child, pay attention to my words; listen attentively to my sayings. |
| 21Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of 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 all their flesh. | 22for they are life to those who find them and healing to one's entire body. |
| 23Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. | 23Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life. |
| 24Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. | 24Remove perverse speech from your mouth; keep devious talk far from your lips. |
| 25Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. | 25Let your eyes look directly in front of you and let your gaze look straight before you. |
| 26Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. | 26Make the path for your feet level, so that all your ways may be established. |
| 27Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. | 27Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn yourself away from evil. |
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