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4:1  Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, and pay attention in order to gain and to know intelligent discernment, comprehension, and interpretation [of spiritual matters].
4:2  For I give you good doctrine [what is to be received]; do not forsake my teaching.
4:3  When I [Solomon] was a son with my father [David], tender and the only son in the sight of my mother [Bathsheba],
4:4  He taught me and said to me, Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live.
4:5  Get skillful and godly Wisdom, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation); do not forget and do not turn back from the words of my mouth.
4:6  Forsake not [Wisdom], and she will keep, defend, and protect you; love her, and she will guard you.
4:7  The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation).
4:8  Prize Wisdom highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you; she will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
4:9  She shall give to your head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to you.
4:10  Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life shall be many.
4:11  I have taught you in the way of skillful and godly Wisdom [which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God]; I have led you in paths of uprightness.
4:12  When you walk, your steps shall not be hampered [your path will be clear and open]; and when you run, you shall not stumble.
4:13  Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.
4:14  Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
4:15  Avoid it, do not go on it; turn from it and pass on.
4:16  For they cannot sleep unless they have caused trouble or vexation; their sleep is taken away unless they have caused someone to fall.
4:17  For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
4:18  But the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines more and more (brighter and clearer) until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day [to be prepared].
4:19  The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.
4:20  My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings.
4:21  Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart.
4:22  For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.
4:23  Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.
4:24  Put away from you false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you.
4:25  Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you.
4:26  Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright.
4:27  Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil.