Common English Bible CEB
English Standard Version ESV
1 My son, don't forget my instruction. Let your heart guard my commands,
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My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 because they will help you live a long time and provide you with well-being.
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for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
3 Don't let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Bind them on your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.
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Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will find favor and approval in the eyes of God and humanity.
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So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; don't rely on your own intelligence.
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Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 Know him in all your paths, and he will keep your ways straight.
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In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
7 Don't consider yourself wise. Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
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Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 Then your body will be healthy and your bones strengthened.
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It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first of all your crops.
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Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 Then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will burst with wine.
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then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11 Don't reject the instruction of the LORD, my son; don't despise his correction.
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My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof,
12 The LORD loves those he corrects, just like a father who treats his son with favor.
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for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Happy are those who find wisdom and those who gain understanding.
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Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,
14 Her profit is better than silver, and her gain better than gold.
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for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.
15 Her value exceeds pearls; all you desire can't compare with her.
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She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 In her right hand is a long life; in her left are wealth and honor.
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Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant; all her paths are peaceful.
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Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who hold her tight are happy.
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She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.
19 The LORD laid the foundations of the earth with wisdom, establishing the heavens with understanding.
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The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens;
20 With his knowledge, the watery depths burst open, and the skies drop dew.
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by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, don't let them slip from your eyes; hold on to sound judgment and discretion.
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My son, do not lose sight of these—keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 They will be life for your whole being, and an ornament for your neck.
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and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will walk safely on your path, and your foot won't stumble.
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Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you lie down, you won't be terrified. When you lie down, your sleep will be pleasant.
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If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Don't fear sudden terror or the ruin that comes to the wicked.
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Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
26 The LORD will be your confidence; he will guard your feet from being snared.
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for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Don't withhold good from someone who deserves it, when it is in your power to do so.
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Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
28 Don't say to your neighbor, "Go and come back; I'll give it to you tomorrow," when you have it.
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Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 Don't plan to harm your neighbor who trusts and lives near you.
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Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.
30 Don't accuse anyone without reason, when they haven't harmed you.
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Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.
31 Don't envy violent people or choose any of their ways.
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Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,
32 Devious people are detestable to the LORD, but the virtuous are his close friends.
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for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence.
33 The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
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The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 He mocks mockers, but he shows favor to the humble.
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Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.
35 The wise gain respect, but fools receive shame.
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The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.