Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 My children, listen to what your father teaches you. Pay attention, and you will have understanding.
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Listen, sons, to a father's instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2 What I am teaching you is good, so remember it all.
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For I give you sound learning. Don't forsake my law.
3 When I was only a little boy, my parents' only son,
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For I was a son to my father, Tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
4 my father would teach me. He would say, "Remember what I say and never forget it. Do as I tell you, and you will live.
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He taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom and insight! Do not forget or ignore what I say.
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Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don't forget, neither swerve from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe.
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Don't forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight.
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Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8 Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will bring you honor.
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Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.
9 She will be your crowning glory."
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She will give to your head a garland of grace. A crown of splendor will she deliver to you."
10 Listen to me, my child. Take seriously what I am telling you, and you will live a long life.
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Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11 I have taught you wisdom and the right way to live.
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I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in paths of uprightness.
12 Nothing will stand in your way if you walk wisely, and you will not stumble when you run.
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When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13 Always remember what you have learned. Your education is your life - guard it well.
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Take firm hold of instruction. Don't let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Do not go where evil people go. Do not follow the example of the wicked.
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Don't enter into the path of the wicked. Don't walk in the way of evil men.
15 Don't do it! Keep away from evil! Refuse it and go on your way.
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Avoid it, and don't pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16 Wicked people cannot sleep unless they have done something wrong. They lie awake unless they have hurt someone.
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For they don't sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
17 Wickedness and violence are like food and drink to them.
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For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
18 The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come.
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But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, That shines more and more until the perfect day.
19 The road of the wicked, however, is dark as night. They fall, but cannot see what they have stumbled over.
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The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don't know what they stumble over.
20 My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen to my words.
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My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21 Never let them get away from you. Remember them and keep them in your heart.
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Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 They will give life and health to anyone who understands them.
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For they are life to those who find them, And health to their whole body.
23 Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.
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Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it is the wellspring of life.
24 Never say anything that isn't true. Have nothing to do with lies and misleading words.
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Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25 Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don't hang your head in shame.
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Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right.
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Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27 Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don't go one step off the right way.
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Don't turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.