| New King James Version | New Living Translation |
| 1Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding; | 1My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment, |
| 2For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law. | 2for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions. |
| 3When I was my father’s son, Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, | 3For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child. |
| 4He also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live. | 4My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live. |
| 5Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. | 5Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. |
| 6Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. | 6Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for 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. | 7Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. |
| 8Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. | 8If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. 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 place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.” |
| 10Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. | 10My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. |
| 11I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. | 11I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. |
| 12When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble. | 12When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble. |
| 13Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life. | 13Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. |
| 14Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. | 14Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. |
| 15Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on. | 15Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving. |
| 16For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. | 16For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day. They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble. |
| 17For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence. | 17They eat the food 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 way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until 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 total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over. |
| 20My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. | 20My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. |
| 21Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; | 21Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, |
| 22For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. | 22for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their 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 determines the course of your life. |
| 24Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. | 24Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. |
| 25Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. | 25Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. |
| 26Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. | 26Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. |
| 27Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. | 27Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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