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pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I am giving you good instruction;
do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father,
tender, and precious in the sight of my mother,
4 he taught me and said,
“Let your heart hold on to my words keenly;
keep my commands and live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 Wisdom is supreme, so get wisdom;
and before everything else you obtain, get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she shall exalt you;
embrace her, and she will bring honour to you.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
10 Listen, my son, and accept my words,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom;
I am leading you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and pass by.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done evil;
they are robbed of sleep until they make someone fall.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
shining ever brighter until the full day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, pay attention to my words;
incline your ears to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and healing to a person’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for from it springs forth the issues of life.
24 Do not permit deceitful words to come from your mouth,
and keep devious talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Consider carefully the path of your feet,
and all your ways will be established.
27 Do not turn to the right hand or to the left;
keep your feet from evil.