Proverbs 4
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction
Solomon Teaches about Wisdom and the Fool1
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, neither swerve 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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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.
Pr 4:1-27. To an earnest call for attention to his teachings, the writer adds a commendation of wisdom, preceded and enforced by the counsels of his father and teacher. To this he adds a caution (against the devices of the wicked), and a series of exhortations to docility, integrity, and uprightness.
1, 2. (Compare Pr 1:8).
to know--in order to know.
doctrine--the matter of learning (Pr 1:5), such as he had received (La 3:1).