Chapter 4

  Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give attention so that you may have knowledge:  

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  For I give you good teaching; do not give up the knowledge you are getting from me.  

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  For I was a son to my father, a gentle and an only one to my mother.  

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  And he gave me teaching, saying to me, Keep my words in your heart; keep my rules so that you may have life:  

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  Get wisdom, get true knowledge; keep it in memory, do not be turned away from the words of my mouth.  

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  Do not give her up, and she will keep you; give her your love, and she will make you safe.  

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  The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all you have to get true knowledge.  

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  Put her in a high place, and you will be lifted up by her; she will give you honour, when you give her your love.  

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  She will put a crown of grace on your head, giving you a head-dress of glory.  

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  Give ear, O my son, and let your heart be open to my sayings; and long life will be yours.  

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  I have given you teaching in the way of wisdom, guiding your steps in the straight way.  

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  When you go, your way will not be narrow, and in running you will not have a fall.  

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  Take learning in your hands, do not let her go: keep her, for she is your life.  

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  Do not go in the road of sinners, or be walking in the way of evil men.  

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  Keep far from it, do not go near; be turned from it, and go on your way.  

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  For they take no rest till they have done evil; their sleep is taken away if they have not been the cause of someone's fall.  

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  The bread of evil-doing is their food, the wine of violent acts their drink.  

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  But the way of the upright is like the light of early morning, getting brighter and brighter till the full day.  

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  The way of sinners is dark; they see not the cause of their fall.  

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  My son, give attention to my words; let your ear be turned to my sayings.  

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  Let them not go from your eyes; keep them deep in your heart.  

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  For they are life to him who gets them, and strength to all his flesh.  

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  And keep watch over your heart with all care; so you will have life.  

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  Put away from you an evil tongue, and let false lips be far from you.  

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  Keep your eyes on what is in front of you, looking straight before you.  

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  Keep a watch on your behaviour; let all your ways be rightly ordered.  

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  Let there be no turning to the right or to the left, keep your feet from evil.  

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