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4:1  Listen, children, to your father's instruction, and pay attention in order to gain understanding.
4:2  I give you sound teaching, so do not abandon my instruction.
4:3  When I was a son to my father, not yet strong and an only son to my mother,
4:4  he taught me and told me, "Let your heart fully embrace what I have to say; keep my commandments and live!
4:5  Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget or turn aside from the words of my mouth!
4:6  Do not abandon her, and she will protect you. Love her, and she will watch over you.
4:7  Wisdom is of utmost importance, therefore get wisdom, and with all your effort work to acquire understanding.
4:8  Prize her and she will exalt you. Indeed, if you embrace her, she will honor you.
4:9  She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will present to you a crown of beauty."
4:10  Listen, my son: accept my words, and you'll live a long, long time.
4:11  I have directed you in the way of wisdom, and I have led you along straight paths.
4:12  When you walk, your step will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.
4:13  Hold on to instruction, do not let it go! Guard wisdom, because she is your life!
4:14  Do not enter the path of the wicked, or go along the way of evil men.
4:15  Avoid it! Don't travel on it! Turn away from it, and pass on by.
4:16  For they cannot sleep unless they are doing evil, and they are robbed of their sleep unless they cause someone to stumble.
4:17  For they eat the bread of wickedness, and they drink the wine of violence.
4:18  The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn that grows brighter until the full light of day.
4:19  But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness, and they do not know what they are stumbling over.
4:20  My son, pay attention to my words, and listen closely to what I say.
4:21  Do not let them out of your sight; keep them within your heart.
4:22  For they are life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.
4:23  Above everything else guard your heart, because from it flow the springs of life.
4:24  Never talk deceptively and don't keep company with people whose speech is corrupt.
4:25  Let your eyes look directly ahead; fix your gaze straight in front of you.
4:26  Carefully measure the paths for your feet, and all your ways will be established.
4:27  Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.