1
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Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding. |
2
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For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not. |
3
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For, a son I have been to my father—tender, And an only one before my mother. |
4
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And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live. |
5
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Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth. |
6
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Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee. |
7
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The first thing [is] wisdom—get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding. |
8
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Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her. |
9
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She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely. |
10
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Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to thee. |
11
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In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness. |
12
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In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not. |
13
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Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life. |
14
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Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers. |
15
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Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on. |
16
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For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble. |
17
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For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink. |
18
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And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established, |
19
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The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble. |
20
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My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear, |
21
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Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart. |
22
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For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing. |
23
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Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life. |
24
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Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee, |
25
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Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee. |
26
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Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established. |
27
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Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil! |