New International Version NIV
New King James Version NKJV
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
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My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
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For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
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Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
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And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
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Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
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In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
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Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
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It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
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Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
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So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,
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My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction;
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
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For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,
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Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding;
14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
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For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
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She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
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Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
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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 take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.
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She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her.
19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
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The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
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By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion;
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My son, let them not depart from your eyes-- Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.
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So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
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Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
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When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
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Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.
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For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.
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Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you.
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Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you.
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.
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Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety's sake.
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason— when they have done you no harm.
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Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways.
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Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways;
32 For the LORD detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence.
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For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright.
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 curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just.
34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
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Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame.
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The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.
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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.