| Chapter 4 |
1 |
Hear, [my] sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding: --
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2 |
For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law. --
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3 |
For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. --
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4 |
And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live; --
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5 |
Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth; --
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6 |
Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee. --
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7 |
Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding. --
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8 |
Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her. --
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9 |
She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee. --
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10 |
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many. --
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11 |
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness. --
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12 |
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. --
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13 |
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life. --
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14 |
Enter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil men. --
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15 |
Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on. --
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16 |
For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. --
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17 |
For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence. --
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18 |
But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day. --
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19 |
The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble. --
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20 |
My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. --
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21 |
Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart. --
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22 |
For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh. --
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23 |
Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life. --
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24 |
Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee. --
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25 |
Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee. --
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26 |
Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established. --
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27 |
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil. --
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