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10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,
    and the years of your life will be many.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom;
    I have led you in right paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered,
    and when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let her go;
    keep her, for she is your life.

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The Right Path

10 Listen, my child, take my sayings,
    and the years of your life shall be great.
11 In the way of wisdom I have instructed you;
    I have led you in the path of uprightness.
12 When you walk,[a] your step will not be hampered,
    and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Seize the instruction! Do not let go!
    Guard her, for she is your life.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:12 Literally “In your walking”

20 My son, attend to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes;
    keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them,
    and health to all their body.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
    for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
    and put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look right on,
    and let your eyelids look straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet,
    and let all your ways be established.
27 Do not turn to the right or to the left;
    remove your foot from evil.

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Staying the Course

20 My child, be attentive to my words;
    to my sayings incline your ear.
21 May they not escape from your sight;[a]
    keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them
    and healing to the entire body.[b]
23 With all vigilance, keep your heart,
    for from it comes the source[c] of life.
24 Remove from yourself deceitful speech,[d]
    and abolish devious talk[e] from yourself.
25 May your eyes look forward[f]
    and your gaze be straight before you.
26 May the path of your foot be balanced
    and all your ways be sure.
27 Do not swerve right or left;
    remove your foot from evil.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:21 Literally “eyes”
  2. Proverbs 4:22 Literally “for all his flesh”
  3. Proverbs 4:23 Or “extremity”
  4. Proverbs 4:24 Literally “crookedness of mouth”
  5. Proverbs 4:24 Literally “deviousness of lips”
  6. Proverbs 4:25 Or “opposite”