Good News Translation GNT
New International Version NIV
1 My children, listen to what your father teaches you. Pay attention, and you will have understanding.
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Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2 What I am teaching you is good, so remember it all.
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I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was only a little boy, my parents' only son,
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For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 my father would teach me. He would say, "Remember what I say and never forget it. Do as I tell you, and you will live.
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Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom and insight! Do not forget or ignore what I say.
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Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe.
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Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
7 Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight.
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The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will bring you honor.
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Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will be your crowning glory."
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She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”
10 Listen to me, my child. Take seriously what I am telling you, and you will live a long life.
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Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.
11 I have taught you wisdom and the right way to live.
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I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
12 Nothing will stand in your way if you walk wisely, and you will not stumble when you run.
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When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Always remember what you have learned. Your education is your life - guard it well.
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Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not go where evil people go. Do not follow the example of the wicked.
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Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Don't do it! Keep away from evil! Refuse it and go on your way.
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Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
16 Wicked people cannot sleep unless they have done something wrong. They lie awake unless they have hurt someone.
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For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 Wickedness and violence are like food and drink to them.
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They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come.
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The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 The road of the wicked, however, is dark as night. They fall, but cannot see what they have stumbled over.
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But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen to my words.
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My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.
21 Never let them get away from you. Remember them and keep them in your heart.
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Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
22 They will give life and health to anyone who understands them.
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for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.
23 Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.
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Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
24 Never say anything that isn't true. Have nothing to do with lies and misleading words.
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Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don't hang your head in shame.
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Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right.
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Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don't go one step off the right way.
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Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.