| Chapter 4 |
1 |
Hear, ye children, 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 my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. --
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4 |
He taught me also, and said to me, Let thy heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. --
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5 |
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. --
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6 |
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. --
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7 |
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. --
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8 |
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her. --
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9 |
She shall give to thy head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall 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 right paths. --
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12 |
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when 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 go not in the way of evil men. --
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15 |
Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. --
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16 |
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; 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 just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more to 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 thy ear to my sayings. --
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21 |
Let them not depart from thy eyes; keep them in the midst of thy heart. --
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22 |
For they are life to 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 froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. --
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25 |
Let thy eyes look right on, and let thy eyelids look straight before thee. --
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26 |
Ponder 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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