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4:1  Hear, O sons, the discipline of a father, And pay attention that you may know understanding,
4:2  For I give you sound learning; Do not forsake my instruction.
4:3  When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son before my mother,
4:4  Then he instructed me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live;
4:5  Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget and do not turn away from the sayings of my mouth.
4:6  Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; Love her, and she will guard you.
4:7  The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, acquire understanding.
4:8  Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her.
4:9  She will give for your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty.”
4:10  Hear, my son, and receive my sayings And the years of your life will be many.
4:11  I have instructed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright tracks.
4:12  When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; And if you run, you will not stumble.
4:13  Seize discipline; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.
4:14  Do not enter the path of wicked men And do not step into the way of evil men.
4:15  Avoid it, do not pass by it; Stray from it and pass on.
4:16  For they do not sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
4:17  For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence.
4:18  But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the fullness of day.
4:19  The way of the wicked is like thick darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.
4:20  My son, pay attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
4:21  Do not let them deviate from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart.
4:22  For they are life to those who find them And healing to all his flesh.
4:23  Guard your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
4:24  Put away from you a perverse mouth And put devious lips far from you.
4:25  Let your eyes look directly ahead And even let your eyelids be fixed straight in front of you.
4:26  Watch the track of your feet And all your ways will be established.
4:27  Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.