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

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[2]  For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye 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 unto me, Let thine 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 thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

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

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[8]  Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

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

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

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

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[12]  When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

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[13]  Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy 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 shineth more and more unto 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 thine ear unto my sayings.

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

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

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

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[24]  Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

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[25]  Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

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

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

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