[1]  Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

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[2]  For I give you good doctrine, forsake you not my law.

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[3]  For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

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[4]  He taught me also, and said to me, Let your heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

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[5]  Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

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[6]  Forsake her not, and she shall preserve you: love her, and she shall keep you.

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[7]  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding.

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[8]  Exalt her, and she shall promote you: she shall bring you to honor, when you do embrace her.

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[9]  She shall give to your head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to you.

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[10]  Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of your life shall be many.

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[11]  I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. ¶

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[12]  When you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not stumble.

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[13]  Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is your life. ¶

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[14]  Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

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[15]  Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

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[16]  For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

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[17]  For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

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[18]  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more to the perfect day.

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[19]  The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. ¶

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[20]  My son, attend to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.

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[21]  Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the middle of your heart.

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[22]  For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

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[23]  Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

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[24]  Put away from you a fraudulent mouth, and perverse lips put far from you.

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[25]  Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you.

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[26]  Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.

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[27]  Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove your foot from evil.

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