Proverbs 4
World English Bible Protestant Edition, 2020 stable text
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Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
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for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
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For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
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He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
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Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
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Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
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Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
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Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
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She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
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Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
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I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
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When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
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Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
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Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
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Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
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For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
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For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
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But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
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The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
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My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
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Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.
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For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
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Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
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Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
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Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
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Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
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Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.