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4:1  Children, listen to the instruction of a father, and be attentive in order to know insight.
4:2  For I have given you good instruction; do not forsake my teaching.
4:3  When I was a son to my father, tender and alone before my mother,
4:4  he taught me and said to me, “May your heart hold fast to my words; guard my commandments and live.
4:5  Get wisdom and insight; do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.
4:6  Do not forsake her—then she will guard you; love her and she will keep you.
4:7  The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom! With all that is in your possession, gain insight.
4:8  Cherish her and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
4:9  She will give a garland for your head; she shall bestow a crown of glory upon you.”
4:10  Listen, my child, take my sayings, and the years of your life shall be great.
4:11  In the way of wisdom I have instructed you; I have led you in the path of uprightness.
4:12  When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.
4:13  Seize the instruction! Do not let go! Guard her, for she is your life.
4:14  In the path of the wicked do not go; do not walk in the way of those who do evil.
4:15  Avoid it; do not transgress it; turn away from it and pass by.
4:16  For they will not sleep if they have not done wrong, and they are robbed of their sleep if they do not cause stumbling.
4:17  For they ate the bread of wickedness, and they drank the wine of violence.
4:18  But the path of the righteous ones is like the light of dawn, leading and shining until the day is full.
4:19  The way of the wicked ones is like deep darkness; they do not know what they stumble over.
4:20  My child, be attentive to my words; to my sayings incline your ear.
4:21  May they not escape from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart.
4:22  For they are life to those who find them and healing to the entire body.
4:23  With all vigilance, keep your heart, for from it comes the source of life.
4:24  Remove from yourself deceitful speech, and abolish devious talk from yourself.
4:25  May your eyes look forward and your gaze be straight before you.
4:26  May the path of your foot be balanced and all your ways be sure.
4:27  Do not swerve right or left; remove your foot from evil.