New Living Translation

1 My children, listen when your father corrects you.<br>Pay attention and learn good judgment,<br> 2 for I am giving you good guidance.<br>Don’t turn away from my instructions.<br> 3 For I, too, was once my father’s son,<br>tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.<br> 4 My father taught me,<br>“Take my words to heart.<br>Follow my commands, and you will live.<br> 5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment.<br>Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.<br> 6 Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.<br>Love her, and she will guard you.<br> 7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!<br>And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.<br> 8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.<br>Embrace her, and she will honor you.<br> 9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head;<br>she will present you with a beautiful crown.”<br> 10 My child, listen to me and do as I say,<br>and you will have a long, good life.<br> 11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways<br>and lead you in straight paths.<br> 12 When you walk, you won’t be held back;<br>when you run, you won’t stumble.<br> 13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.<br>Guard them, for they are the key to life.<br> 14 Don’t do as the wicked do,<br>and don’t follow the path of evildoers.<br> 15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.<br>Turn away and keep moving.<br> 16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.<br>They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.<br> 17 They eat the food of wickedness<br>and drink the wine of violence!<br> 18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,<br>which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.<br> 19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.<br>They have no idea what they are stumbling over.<br> 20 My child, pay attention to what I say.<br>Listen carefully to my words.<br> 21 Don’t lose sight of them.<br>Let them penetrate deep into your heart,<br> 22 for they bring life to those who find them,<br>and healing to their whole body.<br> 23 Guard your heart above all else,<br>for it determines the course of your life.<br> 24 Avoid all perverse talk;<br>stay away from corrupt speech.<br> 25 Look straight ahead,<br>and fix your eyes on what lies before you.<br> 26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;<br>stay on the safe path.<br> 27 Don’t get sidetracked;<br>keep your feet from following evil.<br>