Proverbs 4
1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to
know understanding.
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight
of my mother.
4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my
words: keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline
from the words of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she
shall keep thee.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all
thy getting get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to
honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of
glory shall she deliver to thee.
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy
life shall be many.
11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in
right paths.
12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when
thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she
is thy life.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of
evil men.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their
sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of
violence.
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth
more and more unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they
stumble.
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of
thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all
their flesh.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues
of life.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far
from thee.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look
straight before thee.
26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be
established.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from
evil.
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