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4:1  Hear, children, fatherly instruction; pay attention to gain understanding.
4:2  I’ll teach you well. Don’t abandon my instruction.
4:3  When I was a son to my father, tender and my mother’s favorite,
4:4  he taught me and said to me: “Let your heart hold on to my words: Keep my commands and live.
4:5  Get wisdom; get understanding. Don’t forget and don’t turn away from my words.
4:6  Don’t abandon her, and she will guard you. Love her, and she will protect you.
4:7  The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom! Get understanding before anything else.
4:8  Highly esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will honor you if you embrace her.
4:9  She will place a graceful wreath on your head; she will give you a glorious crown.”
4:10  Listen, my son, and take in my speech, then the years of your life will be many.
4:11  I teach you the path of wisdom. I lead you in straight courses.
4:12  When you walk, you won’t be hindered; when you run, you won’t stumble.
4:13  Hold on to instruction; don’t slack off; protect it, for it is your life.
4:14  Don’t go on the way of the wicked; don’t walk on the path of evil people.
4:15  Avoid it! Don’t turn onto it; stay off of it and keep going!
4:16  They don’t sleep unless they do evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
4:17  They eat the bread of evil, and they drink the wine of violence.
4:18  The way of the righteous is like morning light that gets brighter and brighter till it is full day.
4:19  The path of the wicked is like deep darkness; they don’t know where they will stumble.
4:20  My son, pay attention to my words. Bend your ear to my speech.
4:21  Don’t let them slip from your sight. Guard them in your mind.
4:22  They are life to those who find them, and healing for their entire body.
4:23  More than anything you guard, protect your mind, for life flows from it.
4:24  Have nothing to do with a corrupt mouth; keep devious lips far from you.
4:25  Focus your eyes straight ahead; keep your gaze on what is in front of you.
4:26  Watch your feet on the way, and all your paths will be secure.
4:27  Don’t deviate a bit to the right or the left; turn your feet away from evil.