Holman Christian Standard Bible CSB
English Standard Version ESV
1 My son, don't forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commands;
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My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for they will bring you many days, a full life, and well-being.
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for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
3 Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around 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 high regard in the sight of God and man.
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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, and do not rely on your own understanding;
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Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.
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In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
7 Don't consider yourself to be 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 This will be healing for your body and strengthening for your bones.
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It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest;
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Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
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then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11 Do not despise the Lord's instruction, my son, and do not loathe His discipline;
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My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord disciplines the one He loves, just as a father, the son he delights in.
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for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding,
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Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver, and her revenue is 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 She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire compares with her.
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She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left, riches 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, and all her paths, 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, and those who hold on to her 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 founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.
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The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens;
20 By His knowledge the watery depths broke open, and the clouds dripped with dew.
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by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 Maintain [your] competence and discretion. My son, don't lose sight of them.
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My son, do not lose sight of these—keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 They will be life for you and adornment for your neck.
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and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will go safely on your way; your foot will not stumble.
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Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; you will lie down, and 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 danger or the ruin of the wicked when it comes,
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Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from a snare.
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for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
27 When it is in your power, don't withhold good from the one to whom it is due.
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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 away! Come back later. I'll give it tomorrow"-when it is there with you.
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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 any harm against your neighbor, for he trusts you 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 cause, when he has done you no harm.
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Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.
31 Don't envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
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Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for the devious are detestable to the Lord, but He is a friend to the upright.
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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 household 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 those who mock, but gives grace to the humble.
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Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.
35 The wise will inherit honor, but He holds up fools to dishonor.
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The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025