American Standard Version ASV
Holman Christian Standard Bible CSB
1 Hear, [my] sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding:
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Listen, [my] sons, to a father's discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,
2 For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law.
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for I am giving you good instruction. Don't abandon my teaching.
3 For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
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When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother,
4 And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live;
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he taught me and said: "Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;
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Get wisdom, get understanding; don't forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee.
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Don't abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you.
7 Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [Therefore] get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.
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Wisdom is supreme-so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.
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Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9 She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee.
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She will place a garland of grace on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty."
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many.
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Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years.
11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness.
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I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths.
12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
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When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take fast hold of instruction; Let her not go: Keep her; For she is thy life.
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Hold on to instruction; don't let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil men.
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Don't set foot on the path of the wicked; don't proceed in the way of evil ones.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on.
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Avoid it; don't travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by.
16 For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
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For they can't sleep unless they have done what is evil; they are robbed of sleep unless 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 as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
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The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble.
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But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don't know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings.
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My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart.
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Don't lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.
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For they are life to those who find them, and health to one's whole body.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
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Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
24 Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.
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Don't let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don't let your lips talk deviously.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
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Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
26 Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established.
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Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.
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Don't turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.