Revised Standard Version RSV
Good News Translation GNT
1 Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight;
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My children, listen to what your father teaches you. Pay attention, and you will have understanding.
2 for I give you good precepts: do not forsake my teaching.
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What I am teaching you is good, so remember it all.
3 When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
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When I was only a little boy, my parents' only son,
4 he taught me, and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live;
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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.
5 do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Get wisdom; get insight.
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Get wisdom and insight! Do not forget or ignore what I say.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.
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Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
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Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
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Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will bring you honor.
9 She will place on your head a fair garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown."
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She will be your crowning glory."
10 Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.
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Listen to me, my child. Take seriously what I am telling you, and you will live a long life.
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
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I have taught you wisdom and the right way to live.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered; and if you run, you will not stumble.
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Nothing will stand in your way if you walk wisely, and you will not stumble when you run.
13 Keep hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.
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Always remember what you have learned. Your education is your life - guard it well.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil men.
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Do not go where evil people go. Do not follow the example of the wicked.
15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.
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Don't do it! Keep away from evil! Refuse it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made some one stumble.
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Wicked people cannot sleep unless they have done something wrong. They lie awake unless they have hurt someone.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
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Wickedness and violence are like food and drink to them.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
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The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come.
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.
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The road of the wicked, however, is dark as night. They fall, but cannot see what they have stumbled over.
20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
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My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen to my words.
21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.
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Never let them get away from you. Remember them and keep them in your heart.
22 For they are life to him who finds them, and healing to all his flesh.
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They will give life and health to anyone who understands them.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance; for from it flow the springs of life.
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Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.
24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.
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Never say anything that isn't true. Have nothing to do with lies and misleading words.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
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Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don't hang your head in shame.
26 Take heed to the path of your feet, then all your ways will be sure.
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Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
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Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don't go one step off the right way.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.