10 Listen, my son, and (A)accept my sayings,
And the (B)years of your life will be many.
11 I have (C)instructed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
12 When you walk, your (D)steps will not be hampered;
And if you run, you (E)will not stumble.
13 (F)Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your (G)life.

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10 My child,[a] listen to me and do as I say,
    and you will have a long, good life.
11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways
    and lead you in straight paths.
12 When you walk, you won’t be held back;
    when you run, you won’t stumble.
13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
    Guard them, for they are the key to life.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:10 Hebrew My son; also in 4:20.

20 My son, (A)pay attention to my words;
(B)Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 (C)They are not to escape from your sight;
(D)Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are (E)life to those who find them,
And (F)healing to all [a]their body.
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For (G)from it flow the springs of life.
24 Rid yourself of a (H)deceitful mouth
And (I)keep devious [b]speech far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your [c]gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26 (J)[d]Watch the path of your feet,
And all your (K)ways will be established.
27 (L)Do not turn to the right or to the left;
(M)Turn your foot from evil.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:22 Lit his
  2. Proverbs 4:24 Or lips
  3. Proverbs 4:25 Or eyelids
  4. Proverbs 4:26 I.e., prob. stay on the path

20 My child, pay attention to what I say.
    Listen carefully to my words.
21 Don’t lose sight of them.
    Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
22 for they bring life to those who find them,
    and healing to their whole body.

23 Guard your heart above all else,
    for it determines the course of your life.

24 Avoid all perverse talk;
    stay away from corrupt speech.

25 Look straight ahead,
    and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
    stay on the safe path.
27 Don’t get sidetracked;
    keep your feet from following evil.

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