English Standard Version ESV
New International Version NIV
8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching,
8
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9 for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.
9
They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
10
My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.
11 If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason;
11
If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
12
let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder;
13
we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;
14 throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse"--
14
cast lots with us; we will all share the loot”—
15 my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths,
15
my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;
16 for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
16
for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood.
17 For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird,
17
How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it!
18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.
18
These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves!
19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.
19
Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
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.