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