| King James Version (KJV) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
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1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
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2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
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2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.
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3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
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3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
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4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
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4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
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5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
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5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
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6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
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6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
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7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
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7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
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8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
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8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
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9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
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9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
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10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
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10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
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11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
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11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
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12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth ; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth .
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12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
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13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
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13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,
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14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
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14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
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15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
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15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
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16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
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16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
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17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
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17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
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18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
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18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
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19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
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19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
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20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up , and the clouds drop down the dew.
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20 by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
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21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
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21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight;
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22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
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22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.
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23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble .
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23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble;
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24 When thou liest down , thou shalt not be afraid : yea, thou shalt lie down , and thy sleep shall be sweet .
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24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
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25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh .
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25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
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26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
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26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.
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27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
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27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.
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28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go , and come again , and to morrow I will give ; when thou hast it by thee.
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28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"-- when you now have it with you.
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29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
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29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.
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30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
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30 Do not accuse a man for no reason-- when he has done you no harm.
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31 Envy thou not the oppressor , and choose none of his ways.
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31 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways,
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32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
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32 for the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.
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33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
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33 The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
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34 Surely he scorneth the scorners : but he giveth grace unto the lowly .
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34 He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.
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35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
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35 The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame.
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| The King James Version is in the public domain. (The King James Bible Version Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
