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Proverbs 4
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1Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction.
- Pay attention and know understanding;
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2for I give you sound learning.
- Don’t forsake my law.
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3For I was a son to my father,
- tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
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4He taught me, and said to me:
- “Let your heart retain my words.
- Keep my commandments, and live.
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5Get wisdom.
- Get understanding.
- Don’t forget, neither swerve from the words of my mouth.
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6Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you.
- Love her, and she will keep you.
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7Wisdom is supreme.
- Get wisdom.
- Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
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8Esteem her, and she will exalt you.
- She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.
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9She will give to your head a garland of grace.
- She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
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10Listen, my son, and receive my sayings.
- The years of your life will be many.
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11I have taught you in the way of wisdom.
- I have led you in straight paths.
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12When you go, your steps will not be hampered.
- When you run, you will not stumble.
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13Take firm hold of instruction.
- Don’t let her go.
- Keep her, for she is your life.
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14Don’t enter into the path of the wicked.
- Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
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15Avoid it, and don’t pass by it.
- Turn from it, and pass on.
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16For they don’t sleep, unless they do evil.
- Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
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17For they eat the bread of wickedness,
- and drink the wine of violence.
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18But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light,
- that shines more and more until the perfect day.
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19The way of the wicked is like darkness.
- They don’t know what they stumble over.
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20My son, attend to my words.
- Turn your ear to my sayings.
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21Let them not depart from your eyes.
- Keep them in the midst of your heart.
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22For they are life to those who find them,
- and health to their whole body.
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23Keep your heart with all diligence,
- for out of it is the wellspring of life.
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24Put away from yourself a perverse mouth.
- Put corrupt lips far from you.
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25Let your eyes look straight ahead.
- Fix your gaze directly before you.
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26Make the path of your feet level.
- Let all of your ways be established.
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27Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left.
- Remove your foot from evil.
