The Father's Wisdom
1 Hear, O sons, the (A)instruction of a father,And (B)give attention that you may (a)gain understanding,
1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s discipline,(A)and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,
1 Listen, children, to your father's instruction, and pay attention in order to gain understanding.
1 Hear, O children, the instruction of a father,And pay attention [and be willing to learn] so that you may gain understanding and intelligent discernment.
3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
3 When I was a son with my father,tender and precious to my mother,
3 When I was a son to my father, not yet strong and an only son to my mother,
3 When I was a son with my father (David),Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother (Bathsheba),
4 Then he (G)taught me and said to me,“Let your heart (H)hold fast my words;(I)Keep my commandments and live;
4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
4 he taught me and told me, "Let your heart fully embrace what I have to say; keep my commandments and live!
5 (J)Acquire wisdom! (K)Acquire understanding!Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
5 Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget or turn aside from the words of my mouth!
5 “Get [skillful and godly] wisdom! Acquire understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation]!Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
7 “(M)The (d)beginning of wisdom is: (N)Acquire wisdom;And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
7 Wisdom is of utmost importance, therefore get wisdom, and with all your effort work to acquire understanding.
The Right Path
12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded [for your path will be clear and open];And when you run, you will not stumble.
15 Avoid it, do not pass by it;Turn away from it and pass on.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
15 Avoid it; don’t travel on it.Turn away from it, and pass it by.
15 Avoid it! Don't travel on it! Turn away from it, and pass on by.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;Turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they (Y)cannot sleep unless they do evil;And (e)they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
16 For they can’t sleepunless they have done what is evil;they are robbed of sleepunless they make someone stumble.(P)
16 For they cannot sleep unless they are doing evil, and they are robbed of their sleep unless they cause someone to stumble.
16 For the wicked cannot sleep unless they do evil;And they are deprived of sleep unless they make someone stumble and fall.
18 But the (AA)path of the righteous is like the (AB)light of dawn,That (AC)shines brighter and brighter until the (AD)full day.
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,(Q)shining brighter and brighter until midday.
18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn that grows brighter until the full light of day.
Staying The Course
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
22 For they are life to those who find them,and health to one’s whole body.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.
22 For they are life to those who find them,And healing and health to all their flesh.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead; fix your gaze straight in front of you.
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead [toward the path of moral courage]And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you [toward the path of integrity].