Hebrew Names Version HNV
New International Version NIV
1 Listen, sons, to a father's instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
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Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2 For I give you sound learning. Don't forsake my law.
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I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I was a son to my father, Tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
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For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 He taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words. Keep my mitzvot, and 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. Get understanding. Don't forget, neither swerve from the words of my mouth.
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Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Don't forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
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Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
7 Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
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The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.
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Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will give to your head a garland of grace. A crown of splendor will she deliver to you."
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She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”
10 Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
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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 in the way of wisdom. I have led you in paths of uprightness.
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I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
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When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take firm hold of instruction. Don't let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
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Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Don't enter into the path of the wicked. Don't walk in the way of evil men.
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Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, and don't pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
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Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they don't sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
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For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
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They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, That shines more and more until the perfect day.
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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 way of the wicked is like darkness. They don't know what they stumble 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 son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
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My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.
21 Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart.
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Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to their whole body.
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for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it is the wellspring of life.
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Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
24 Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
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Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
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Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
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Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Don't turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
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Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
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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.