New Living Translation NLT
Hebrew Names Version HNV
1 My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment,
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Listen, sons, to a father's instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2 for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions.
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For I give you sound learning. Don't forsake my law.
3 For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.
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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 taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live.
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He taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words. Keep my mitzvot, and live.
5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
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Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don't forget, neither swerve from the words of my mouth.
6 Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you.
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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 wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
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Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you.
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Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.
9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.”
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She will give to your head a garland of grace. A crown of splendor will she deliver to you."
10 My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life.
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Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths.
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I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble.
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When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.
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Take firm hold of instruction. Don't let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
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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 even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.
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Avoid it, and don't pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day. They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
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For they don't sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
17 They eat the food of wickedness and drink the wine of violence!
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For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
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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 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling 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 carefully to my words.
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My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21 Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
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Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.
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For they are life to those who find them, And health to their whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
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Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it is the wellspring of life.
24 Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.
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Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25 Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
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Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.
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Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27 Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.
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Don't turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.