And (A)now, O sons, listen to me,
    and do not depart from the words of my mouth.

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Now then, my sons, listen(A) to me;
    do not turn aside from what I say.

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A Father's Wise Instruction

(A)Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may (B)gain[a] insight,

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:1 Hebrew know

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

Listen, my sons,(A) to a father’s instruction;(B)
    pay attention and gain understanding.(C)

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25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For (A)if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

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25 See to it that you do not refuse(A) him who speaks.(B) If they did not escape when they refused him who warned(C) them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?(D)

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Words of the Wise

17 (A)Incline your ear, and hear (B)the words of the wise,
    (C)and apply your heart to my knowledge,
18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
    if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 That your trust may be in the Lord,
    I have made them known to you today, even to you.
20 Have I not written for you (D)thirty sayings
    of counsel and knowledge,
21 to (E)make you know what is right and true,
    that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

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Thirty Sayings of the Wise

Saying 1

17 Pay attention(A) and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;(B)
    apply your heart to what I teach,(C)
18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
    and have all of them ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,
    I teach you today, even you.
20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
    sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21 teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,(D)
    so that you bring back truthful reports
    to those you serve?

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24 And (A)now, O sons, listen to me,
    and be attentive to the words of my mouth.

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24 Now then, my sons, listen(A) to me;
    pay attention to what I say.

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21 (A)Let them not escape from your sight;
    (B)keep them within your heart.

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21 Do not let them out of your sight,(A)
    keep them within your heart;

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21 My son, (A)do not lose sight of these—
    keep sound wisdom and discretion,

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21 My son,(A) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,(B)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;

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32 “And now, (A)O sons, listen to me:
    (B)blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 (C)Hear instruction and be wise,
    and do not neglect it.
34 (D)Blessed is the one who listens to me,
    watching daily at my gates,
    waiting beside my doors.
35 For (E)whoever finds me (F)finds life
    and (G)obtains favor from the Lord,
36 but he who fails to find me (H)injures himself;
    all who (I)hate me (J)love death.”

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32 “Now then, my children, listen(A) to me;
    blessed are(B) those who keep my ways.(C)
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
    do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen(D) to me,
    watching daily at my doors,
    waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me(E) find life(F)
    and receive favor from the Lord.(G)
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;(H)
    all who hate me love death.”(I)

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