Proverbs 4
A Father's Wise Instruction
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f Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,
and be attentive, that you may g gain 1 insight,
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for I give you good h precepts;
do not forsake my teaching.
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When I was a son with my father,
i tender, j the only one in the sight of my mother,
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he k taught me and said to me,
l "Let your heart hold fast my words;
m keep my commandments, and live.
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n Get wisdom; get g insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
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Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
o love her, and she will guard you.
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p The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get g insight.
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Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will q honor you r if you embrace her.
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She will place on your head s a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown"
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f Hear, t my son, and accept my words,
that u the years of your life may be many.
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I have v taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
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When you walk, w your step will not be hampered,
and x if you run, you will not stumble.
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y Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your z life.
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a Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of the evil.
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Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.
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For they b cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
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For they eat the bread of wickedness
c and drink the wine of violence.
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But d the path of the righteous is like e the light of dawn,
which shines f brighter and brighter until g full day.
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h The way of the wicked is like deep i darkness;
they do not know over what they j stumble.
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k My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
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l Let them not escape from your sight;
m keep them within your heart.
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For they are n life to those who find them,
and healing to all their 2 flesh.
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Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for o from it flow p the springs of life.
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Put away from you q crooked speech,
and put r devious talk far from you.
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s Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
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t Ponder 3 the path of your feet;
u then all your ways will be sure.
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v Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.