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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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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 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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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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