New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 My children, listen to your father's teaching; pay attention so you will understand.
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Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2 What I am telling you is good, so do not forget what I teach you.
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I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a young boy in my father's house and like an only child to my mother,
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For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 my father taught me and said, "Hold on to my words with all your heart. Keep my commands 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 understanding. Don't forget or ignore my words.
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Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Hold on to wisdom, and it will take care of you. Love it, and it 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 Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom. If it costs everything you have, get understanding.
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The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Treasure wisdom, and it will make you great; hold on to it, and it will bring you honor.
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Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 It will be like flowers in your hair and like a beautiful crown on your head."
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She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”
10 My child, listen and accept what I say. Then you will have 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 am guiding you in the way of wisdom, and I am leading you on the right path.
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I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
12 Nothing will hold you back; you will not be overwhelmed.
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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 been taught, and don't let go of it. Keep all that you have learned; it is the most important thing in 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 follow the ways of the wicked; don't do what evil people do.
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Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid their ways, and don't follow them. Stay away from them and keep on going,
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Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
16 because they cannot sleep until they do evil. They cannot rest until they harm someone.
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For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They feast on wickedness and cruelty as if they were eating bread and drinking wine.
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They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 The way of the good person is like the light of dawn, growing brighter and brighter until full daylight.
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The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the wicked walk around in the dark; they can't even see what makes them stumble.
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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 my words; listen closely to what I say.
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My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.
21 Don't ever forget my words; keep them always in mind.
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Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
22 They are the key to life for those who find them; they bring health to the whole body.
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for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.
23 Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.
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Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
24 Don't use your mouth to tell lies; don't ever say things that are not true.
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Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Keep your eyes focused on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good.
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Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Be careful what you do, and always do what is right.
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Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Don't turn off the road of goodness; keep away from evil paths.
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Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.