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4:1  Listen, sons, to a father’s discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,
4:2  for I am giving you good instruction. Don’t abandon my teaching.
4:3  When I was a son with my father, tender and precious to my mother,
4:4  he taught me and said, “Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live.
4:5  Get wisdom, get understanding; don’t forget or turn away from the words from my mouth.
4:6  Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you.
4:7  Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.
4:8  Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
4:9  She will place a garland of favor on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty.”
4:10  Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years.
4:11  I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths.
4:12  When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble.
4:13  Hold on to instruction; don’t let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
4:14  Keep off the path of the wicked; don’t proceed on the way of evil ones.
4:15  Avoid it; don’t travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by.
4:16  For they can’t sleep unless they have done what is evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
4:17  They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
4:18  The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
4:19  But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don’t know what makes them stumble.
4:20  My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings.
4:21  Don’t lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
4:22  For they are life to those who find them, and health to one’s whole body.
4:23  Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
4:24  Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously.
4:25  Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
4:26  Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established.
4:27  Don’t turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil.