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v1
Children, listen to the instruction of a father, and be attentive in order to know insight.
v2
For I have given you good instruction; do not forsake my teaching.
v3
When I was a son to my father, tender and alone before my mother,
v4
he taught me and said to me, “May your heart hold fast to my words; guard my commandments and live.
v5
Get wisdom and insight; do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.
v6
Do not forsake her—then she will guard you; love her and she will keep you.
v7
The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom! With all that is in your possession, gain insight.
v8
Cherish her and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
v9
She will give a garland for your head; she shall bestow a crown of glory upon you.”
v10
Listen, my child, take my sayings, and the years of your life shall be great.
v11
In the way of wisdom I have instructed you; I have led you in the path of uprightness.
v12
When you walk, ^[Literally “In your walking”] your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.
v13
Seize the instruction! Do not let go! Guard her, for she is your life.
v14
In the path of the wicked do not go; do not walk in the way of those who do evil.
v15
Avoid it; do not transgress it; turn away from it and pass by.
v16
For they will not sleep if they have not done wrong, and they are robbed of their sleep if they do not cause stumbling.
v17
For they ate the bread of wickedness, and they drank the wine of violence.
v18
But the path of the righteous ones is like the light of dawn, leading and shining until the day is full. ^[Literally “is correct”]
v19
The way of the wicked ones is like deep darkness; they do not know what they stumble over.
v20
My child, be attentive to my words; to my sayings incline your ear.
v21
May they not escape from your sight; ^[Literally “eyes”] keep them in the midst of your heart.
v22
For they are life to those who find them and healing to the entire body. ^[Literally “for all his flesh”]
v23
With all vigilance, keep your heart, for from it comes the source ^[Or “extremity”] of life.
v24
Remove from yourself deceitful speech, ^[Literally “crookedness of mouth”] and abolish devious talk ^[Literally “deviousness of lips”] from yourself.
v25
May your eyes look forward ^[Or “opposite”] and your gaze be straight before you.
v26
May the path of your foot be balanced and all your ways be sure.
v27
Do not swerve right or left; remove your foot from evil.