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[1]HEAR, O my children, the instruction of a father, and give ear to knowledge and understanding.
[2]Because I give you good doctrine, do not forsake my law.
[3]For I was also a son to my father, tender and the only begotten in the sight of my mother.
[4]He taught me, and said to me, Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live; and let my law be as the pupil of the eye.
[5]Get wisdom, get understanding; and turn not aside from the words of my mouth.
[6]Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will save you.
[7]Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; and with all your substance get understanding.
[8]Love her, and she shall exalt you; embrace her, and she shall honor you.
[9]She shall put upon your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory shall she bestow upon you.
[10]Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of your life shall be many.
[11]I have taught you the ways of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.
[12]When you walk, your steps will not be unsteady; and when you run, you will not stumble.
[13]Take fast hold of my instruction, and do not forsake her; keep her, for she is your life
[14]Do not walk in the way of evil men, and do not envy the way of the wicked.
[15]The place where they dwell, do not pass by it, turn away from it,
[16]For they do not sleep until they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away until their evil devices are carried out.
[17]For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
[18]But the path of the righteous is like the shining light that shines more and more unto the perfect day.
[19]The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know at what they stumble
[20]My son, attend to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
[21]Do not let them depart from your eyes; but keep them in the midst of your heart.
[22]For they are life to him who finds them, and health to all his flesh.
[23]Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.
[24]Put away from you a perverse mouth, and the counsel of deceit put far from your lips.
[25]Let your eyes look straight forward, and let your eyelids look straight before you.
[26]Keep your feet away from evil paths; then all your ways shall be firm.
[27]Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; but remove your foot from evil
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