| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding; | 1Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. |
| 2For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law. | 2I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. |
| 3When I was my father’s son, Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, | 3For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. |
| 4He also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, 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! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. | 5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. |
| 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 watch over you. |
| 7Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. | 7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, 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; embrace her, and 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 give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown." |
| 10Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. | 10Listen, my son, accept what I say, and 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 instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along 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 hampered; 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; guard it well, for it is your life. |
| 14Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. | 14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. |
| 15Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on. | 15Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. |
| 16For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone 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 like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter 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 like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble. | 19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. |
| 20My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. | 20My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. |
| 21Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; | 21Do not let them out of your sight, 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. | 23Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. |
| 24Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. | 24Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. |
| 25Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. | 25Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. |
| 26Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. | 26Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. |
| 27Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. | 27Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. |
| 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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