| New King James Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding; | 1Listen, sons, to a father's discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding, |
| 2For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law. | 2for I am giving you good instruction. Don't abandon 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 with my father, tender and precious to 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 said: "Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live. |
| 5Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. | 5Get wisdom, get understanding; don't forget or turn away from the words from my mouth. |
| 6Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. | 6Don't abandon wisdom, and she will watch over 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 get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding. |
| 8Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. | 8Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you. |
| 9She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you.” | 9She will place a garland of favor on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty." |
| 10Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. | 10Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years. |
| 11I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. | 11I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight 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 hindered; 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; don't let go. Guard it, for it is your life. |
| 14Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. | 14Keep off the path of the wicked; don't proceed on the way of evil ones. |
| 15Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on. | 15Avoid it; don't travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by. |
| 16For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. | 16For they can't sleep unless they have done what is evil; they are robbed of sleep unless 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 like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. | 18The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. |
| 19The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble. | 19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don't know what makes them stumble. |
| 20My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. | 20My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. |
| 21Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; | 21Don't lose sight of them; keep 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 health to one's whole body. |
| 23Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. | 23Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. |
| 24Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. | 24Don't let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don't let your lips talk deviously. |
| 25Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. | 25Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. |
| 26Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. | 26Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established. |
| 27Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. | 27Don't turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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