An admonition of a father to his son. Acquiring wisdom
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Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction, and pay attention so you will know what understanding is.
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I am giving you good instructions; do not forsake my teaching.
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When I was a son of my father, the tender and only child of my mother,
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he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast to my words; keep my commands and live.
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Acquire wisdom and understanding; do not forget and do not reject the words of my mouth;
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do not abandon wisdom and she will watch over you; love her and she will keep you safe.
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Wisdom is the most important thing, so acquire wisdom and spend all you own so you can get understanding.
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Cherish wisdom and she will exalt you; she will honor you when you embrace her.
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She will put a wreath of honor on your head; she will give you a beautiful crown.”
The way of the wise and the way of the unrighteous
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Listen, my son, and pay attention to my words, and you will have many years in your life.
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I direct you in the way of wisdom; I lead you down straight paths.
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When you walk, no one will stand in your way and if you run, you will not stumble.
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Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it, for it is your life.
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Do not follow the path of the wicked and do not go along the way of those who do evil.
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Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it and go another way.
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For they cannot sleep until they do evil and they are robbed of sleep until they cause someone to stumble.
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For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
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But the path of righteous people is like the first light that grows brighter; it shines more and more until the fullness of the day comes.
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The way of the wicked is like darkness-they do not know what it is they stumble over.
A father's admonition
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My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
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Do not let them turn away from your eyes; keep them in your heart.
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For my words are life to those who find them and health to their whole body.
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Keep your heart safe and guard it with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.
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Put crooked speech away from you and put corrupt talk far from you.
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Let your eyes look straight ahead and fix your gaze straight before you.
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Make a level path for your foot; then all your ways will be secure.
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Do not turn aside to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
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