# Proverbs 4 
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1. Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, 
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2. for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. 
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3. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, 
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4. he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. 
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5. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. 
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6. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. 
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7. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. 
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8. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. 
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9. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” 
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10. Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. 
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11. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. 
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12. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. 
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13. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. 
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14. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. 
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15. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. 
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16. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. 
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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 righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. 
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19. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. 
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20. My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 
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21. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. 
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22. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. 
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23. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. 
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24. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. 
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25. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. 
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26. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. 
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27. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. 

(ESV)