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. |