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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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10 Listen, my son: accept my words,
    and you’ll live a long, long time.[a]
11 I have directed you in the way of wisdom,
    and I have led you along straight[b] paths.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hindered,
    and when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go!
    Guard wisdom,[c] because she is your life!

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:10 Lit. and the years of your life will be many
  2. Proverbs 4:11 Or upright
  3. Proverbs 4:13 Lit. her

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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Remembering the Counsel of a Wise Father

20 My son, pay attention to my words,
    and listen closely[a] to what I say.
21 Do not let them out of your sight;
    keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
    and healing to their whole body.[b]

23 Above everything else[c] guard your heart,
    because from it flow the springs of life.
24 Never talk deceptively
    and don’t keep company with people whose speech is corrupt.[d]

25 Let your eyes look directly ahead;
    fix your gaze straight in front of you.
26 Carefully measure[e] the paths for your feet,
    and all your ways will be established.
27 Do not turn to the right or to the left;
    turn your foot away from evil.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:20 Lit. turn your ear
  2. Proverbs 4:22 Lit. flesh
  3. Proverbs 4:23 Lit. Above all watching
  4. Proverbs 4:24 Lit. keep corrupt lips far from you
  5. Proverbs 4:26 Lit. Weigh