A Father’s Instruction 1 UEB Listen, sons, to a father's instruction, and pay attention so you will know what understanding is. BSB BSB: Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2 UEB I am giving you good instructions; do not forsake my teaching. BSB BSB: For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
3 UEB When I was a son of my father, the tender and only child of my mother, BSB BSB: When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
4 UEB he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast to my words; keep my commands and live. BSB BSB: he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
5 UEB Acquire wisdom and understanding; do not forget and do not reject the words of my mouth; BSB BSB: Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
6 UEB do not abandon wisdom and she will watch over you; love her and she will keep you safe. BSB BSB: Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
7 UEB Wisdom is the most important thing, so acquire wisdom and spend all you own so you can get understanding. BSB BSB: Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
8 UEB Cherish wisdom and she will exalt you; she will honor you when you embrace her. BSB BSB: Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9 UEB She will put a wreath of honor on your head; she will give you a beautiful crown." BSB BSB: She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
10 UEB Listen, my son, and pay attention to my words, and you will have many years in your life. BSB BSB: Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
11 UEB I direct you in the way of wisdom; I lead you down straight paths. BSB BSB: I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
12 UEB When you walk, no one will stand in your way and if you run, you will not stumble. BSB BSB: When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 UEB Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it, for it is your life. BSB BSB: Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
14 UEB Do not follow the path of the wicked and do not go along the way of those who do evil. BSB BSB: Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 UEB Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it and go another way. BSB BSB: Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
16 UEB For they cannot sleep until they do evil and they are robbed of sleep until they cause someone to stumble. BSB BSB: For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
17 UEB For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. BSB BSB: For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 UEB But the path of righteous people is like the first light that grows brighter; it shines more and more until the fullness of the day comes. BSB BSB: The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 UEB The way of the wicked is like darkness— they do not know what it is they stumble over. BSB BSB: But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 UEB My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. BSB BSB: My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 UEB Do not let them turn away from your eyes; keep them in your heart. BSB BSB: Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
22 UEB For my words are life to those who find them and health to their whole body. BSB BSB: For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
23 UEB Keep your heart safe and guard it with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. BSB BSB: Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
24 UEB Put crooked speech away from you and put corrupt talk far from you. BSB BSB: Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
25 UEB Let your eyes look straight ahead and fix your gaze straight before you. BSB BSB: Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
26 UEB Make a level path for your foot; then all your ways will be secure. BSB BSB: Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
27 UEB Do not turn aside to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. BSB BSB: Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.