| 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 unto me, Let thine 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 honour, when thou dost embrace her.
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| 9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown1 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 unto 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 thine ear unto my sayings.
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| 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
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| 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health2 to all their flesh.
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| 23 Keep thy heart with3 all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
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| 24 Put away from thee a froward4 mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
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| 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
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| 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let5 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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