10 Listen, my son,(A) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.(B)
11 I instruct(C) you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.(D)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.(E)
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.(F)

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10 Listen, my son, and receive my sayings.
    The years of your life will be many.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom.
    I have led you in straight paths.
12 When you go, your steps will not be hampered.
    When you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take firm hold of instruction.
    Don’t let her go.
    Keep her, for she is your life.

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20 My son,(A) pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.(B)
21 Do not let them out of your sight,(C)
    keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.(D)
23 Above all else, guard(E) your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.(F)
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes(G) look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[a] paths for your feet(H)
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;(I)
    keep your foot from evil.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:26 Or Make level

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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