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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 crown 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 health to all their flesh. |
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23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. |
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24 Put away from thee a froward 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 let 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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