56 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
56 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
# Chapter 4
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1 My children, listen when your father corrects you.
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Pay attention and learn good judgment,
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2 for I am giving you good guidance.
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Don’t turn away from my instructions.
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3 For I, too, was once my father’s son,
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tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.
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4 My father taught me,
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“Take my words to heart.
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Follow my commands, and you will live.
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5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment.
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Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
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6 Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.
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Love her, and she will guard you.
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7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
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And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
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8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
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Embrace her, and she will honor you.
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9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
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she will present you with a beautiful crown.”
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10 My child, listen to me and do as I say,
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and you will have a long, good life.
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11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways
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and lead you in straight paths.
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12 When you walk, you won’t be held back;
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when you run, you won’t stumble.
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13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
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Guard them, for they are the key to life.
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14 Don’t do as the wicked do,
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and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
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15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
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Turn away and keep moving.
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16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.
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They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
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17 They eat the food of wickedness
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and drink the wine of violence!
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18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
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which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
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19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
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They have no idea what they are stumbling over.
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20 My child, pay attention to what I say.
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Listen carefully to my words.
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21 Don’t lose sight of them.
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Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
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22 for they bring life to those who find them,
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and healing to their whole body.
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23 Guard your heart above all else,
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for it determines the course of your life.
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24 Avoid all perverse talk;
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stay away from corrupt speech.
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25 Look straight ahead,
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and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
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26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
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stay on the safe path.
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27 Don’t get sidetracked;
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keep your feet from following evil. |