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Admonition to Keep to the Right Path

10 Hear, my child, and accept my words,
    that the years of your life may be many.
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom;
    I have led you in the paths of uprightness.(A)
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
    and if you run, you will not stumble.(B)
13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
    guard her, for she is your life.

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Two Ways of Life

10 Listen, my son. Accept my words,(A)
and you will live many years.(B)
11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom;
I am guiding you on straight paths.(C)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered;(D)
when you run, you will not stumble.(E)
13 Hold on to instruction; don’t let go.(F)
Guard it, for it is your life.

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20 My child, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them escape from your sight;
    keep them within your heart.(A)
22 For they are life to those who find them
    and healing to all their flesh.(B)
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
    for from it flow the springs of life.(C)
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
    and put devious talk far from you.(D)
25 Let your eyes look directly forward
    and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Keep straight the path of your feet,
    and all your ways will be sure.(E)
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
    turn your foot away from evil.(F)

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The Straight Path

20 My son, pay attention to my words;
listen closely to my sayings.(A)
21 Don’t lose sight of them;(B)
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else,[a]
for it is the source of life.(C)
24 Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly,(D)
and don’t let your lips talk deviously.
25 Let your eyes look forward;
fix your gaze[b] straight ahead.(E)
26 Carefully consider the path[c] for your feet,(F)
and all your ways will be established.
27 Don’t turn to the right or to the left;(G)
keep your feet away from evil.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:23 Or heart with all diligence
  2. 4:25 Lit eyelids
  3. 4:26 Or Clear a path