| Common English Bible (CEB) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Hear, children, fatherly instruction; pay attention to gain understanding.
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1 Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
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2 I'll teach you well. Don't abandon my instruction.
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2 I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.
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3 When I was a son to my father, tender and my mother's favorite,
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3 When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother,
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4 he taught me and said to me: "Let your heart hold on to my words: Keep my commands and live.
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4 he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live.
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5 Get wisdom; get understanding. Don't forget and don't turn away from my words.
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5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.
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6 Don't abandon her, and she will guard you. Love her, and she will protect you.
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6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
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7 The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom! Get understanding before anything else.
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7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
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8 Highly esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will honor you if you embrace her.
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8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
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9 She will place a graceful wreath on your head; she will give you a glorious crown."
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9 She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor."
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10 Listen, my son, and take in my speech, then the years of your life will be many.
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10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.
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11 I teach you the path of wisdom. I lead you in straight courses.
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11 I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
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12 When you walk, you won't be hindered; when you run, you won't stumble.
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12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
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13 Hold on to instruction; don't slack off; protect it, for it is your life.
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13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
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14 Don't go on the way of the wicked; don't walk on the path of evil people.
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14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.
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15 Avoid it! Don't turn onto it; stay off of it and keep going!
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15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
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16 They don't sleep unless they do evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
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16 For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.
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17 They eat the bread of evil, and they drink the wine of violence.
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17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
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18 The way of the righteous is like morning light that gets brighter and brighter till it is full day.
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18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
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19 The path of the wicked is like deep darkness; they don't know where they will stumble.
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19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
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20 My son, pay attention to my words. Bend your ear to my speech.
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20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.
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21 Don't let them slip from your sight. Guard them in your mind.
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21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
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22 They are life to those who find them, and healing for their entire body.
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22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.
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23 More than anything you guard, protect your mind, for life flows from it.
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23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
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24 Have nothing to do with a corrupt mouth; keep devious lips far from you.
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24 Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
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25 Focus your eyes straight ahead; keep your gaze on what is in front of you.
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25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
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26 Watch your feet on the way, and all your paths will be secure.
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26 Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
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27 Don't deviate a bit to the right or the left; turn your feet away from evil.
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27 Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
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| Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible (Common English Bible) |
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) |
