56 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
56 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
# Chapter 4
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1 Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,
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and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
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2 for I give you good precepts;
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do not forsake my teaching.
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3 When I was a son with my father,
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tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
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4 he taught me and said to me,
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“Let your heart hold fast my words;
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keep my commandments, and live.
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5 Get wisdom; get insight;
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do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
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6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
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love her, and she will guard you.
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7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
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and whatever you get, get insight.
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8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
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she will honor you if you embrace her.
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9 She will place on your head a graceful garland;
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she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
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10 Hear, my son, and accept my words,
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that the years of your life may be many.
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11 I have taught you the way of wisdom;
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I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
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12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
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and if you run, you will not stumble.
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13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
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guard her, for she is your life.
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14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
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and do not walk in the way of the evil.
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15 Avoid it; do not go on it;
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turn away from it and pass on.
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16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
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they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
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17 For they eat the bread of wickedness
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and drink the wine of violence.
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18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
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which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
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19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
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they do not know over what they stumble.
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20 My son, be attentive to my words;
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incline your ear to my sayings.
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21 Let them not escape from your sight;
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keep them within your heart.
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22 For they are life to those who find them,
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and healing to all their flesh.
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23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
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for from it flow the springs of life.
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24 Put away from you crooked speech,
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and put devious talk far from you.
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25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
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and your gaze be straight before you.
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26 Ponder the path of your feet;
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then all your ways will be sure.
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27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
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turn your foot away from evil. |