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