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14 Don’t enter into the path of the wicked.
    Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, and don’t pass by it.
    Turn from it, and pass on.
16 For they don’t sleep unless they do evil.
    Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light
    that shines more and more until the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness.
    They don’t know what they stumble over.

20 My son, attend to my words.
    Turn your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from your eyes.
    Keep them in the center of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
    and health to their whole body.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
    for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24 Put away from yourself a perverse mouth.
    Put corrupt lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead.
    Fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Make the path of your feet level.
    Let all of your ways be established.
27 Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left.
    Remove your foot from evil.

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14 Don’t go on the way of the wicked;
    don’t walk on the path of evil people.
15 Avoid it! Don’t turn onto it;
    stay off of it and keep going!
16 They don’t sleep unless they do evil;
    they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of evil,
    and they drink the wine of violence.
18 The way of the righteous is like morning light
    that gets brighter and brighter till it is full day.
19 The path of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they don’t know where they will stumble.

Be careful about what you say

20 My son, pay attention to my words.
    Bend your ear to my speech.
21 Don’t let them slip from your sight.
    Guard them in your mind.
22 They are life to those who find them,
    and healing for their entire body.
23 More than anything you guard, protect your mind, for life flows from it.
24 Have nothing to do with a corrupt mouth;
    keep devious lips far from you.
25 Focus your eyes straight ahead;
    keep your gaze on what is in front of you.
26 Watch your feet on the way,
    and all your paths will be secure.
27 Don’t deviate a bit to the right or the left;
    turn your feet away from evil.

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