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A Father's Instruction

¹ Hear, O children, the ^(C1)instruction of a father,
And ^(C2)pay attention and be willing to learn so that you may gain understanding and intelligent discernment.

² For I give you ^(C1)good doctrine;
^(C2)Do not ^(F1)turn away from my instruction.

³ When I was a son with my father (David),
^(C1)Tender and ^(C2)the only son in the sight of my mother (Bathsheba),

⁴ He ^(C1)taught me and said to me,
"Let your heart ^(C2)hold fast my words;
^(C3)Keep my commandments and live. ^(VR1)

⁵ "^(C1)Get skillful and godly wisdom! ^(C2)Acquire understanding actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

⁶ "Do not ^(F1)turn away from her (Wisdom) and she will guard and protect you;
^(C1)Love her, and she will watch over you.

⁷ "^(C1)The beginning of wisdom is: ^(C2)Get skillful and godly wisdom it is preeminent!
And with all your acquiring, get understanding actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation. ^(VR1)

⁸ "^(C1)Prize wisdom and exalt her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.

⁹ "She will place ^(C1)on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty and glory."

¹⁰ Hear, my son, and ^(C1)accept my sayings,
And the ^(C2)years of your life will be many.

¹¹ I have ^(C1)instructed you in the way of skillful and godly wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.

¹² When you walk, your ^(C1)steps will not be impeded for your path will be clear and open;
And when you run, you ^(C2)will not stumble.

^13 (C1)Take hold of instruction; actively seek it, grip it firmly and do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your ^(C2)life.

^14 (C1)Do not enter the path of the wicked,
And do not go the way of evil men.

¹⁵ Avoid it, do not travel on it;
Turn away from it and pass on.

¹⁶ For the wicked ^(C1)cannot sleep unless they do evil;
And they are deprived of sleep unless they make someone stumble and fall.

¹⁷ For they ^(C1)eat the bread of wickedness
And drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸ But the ^(C1)path of the just (righteous) is like the ^(C2)light of dawn,
That ^(C3)shines brighter and brighter until it reaches its full strength and glory in the ^(C4)perfect day. ^(VR1)

¹⁹ The ^(C1)way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
They do not know over what they ^(C2)stumble. ^(VR1)

²⁰ My son, ^(C1)pay attention to my words and be willing to learn;
^(C2)Open your ears to my sayings.

^21 (C1)Do not let them escape from your sight;
^(C2)Keep them in the center of your heart.

²² For they are ^(C1)life to those who find them,
And healing and ^(C2)health to all their flesh.

²³ Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For ^(C1)from it flow the springs of life.

²⁴ Put away from you ^(C1)a deceitful (lying, misleading) mouth,
And ^(C2)put devious lips far from you.

²⁵ Let your eyes look directly ahead toward the path of moral courage
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you toward the path of integrity.

^26 (C1)Consider well and watch carefully the path of your feet,
And all your ^(C2)ways will be steadfast and sure.

^27 (C1)Do not turn away to the right nor to the left where evil may lurk;
^(C2)Turn your foot from the path of evil.