| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; | 1My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, |
| 2For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. | 2for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. |
| 3Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, | 3Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. |
| 4And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. | 4Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. |
| 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; | 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; |
| 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. | 6in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. |
| 7Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. | 7Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. |
| 8It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. | 8This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. |
| 9Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; | 9Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; |
| 10So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. | 10then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. |
| 11My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; | 11My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, |
| 12For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. | 12because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. |
| 13Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; | 13Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, |
| 14For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. | 14for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. |
| 15She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. | 15She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. |
| 16Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. | 16Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. |
| 17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. | 17Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. |
| 18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her. | 18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. |
| 19The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens; | 19By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; |
| 20By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew. | 20by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. |
| 21My son, let them not depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion; | 21My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; |
| 22So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck. | 22they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. |
| 23Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. | 23Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. |
| 24When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. | 24When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. |
| 25Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; | 25Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, |
| 26For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught. | 26for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared. |
| 27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. | 27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. |
| 28Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you. | 28Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back tomorrow and I'll give it to you"-- when you already have it with you. |
| 29Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety’s sake. | 29Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. |
| 30Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. | 30Do not accuse anyone for no reason-- when they have done you no harm. |
| 31Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; | 31Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways. |
| 32For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD, But His secret counsel is with the upright. | 32For the LORD detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence. |
| 33The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just. | 33The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. |
| 34Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. | 34He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. |
| 35The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools. | 35The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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