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Get Wisdom at Any Cost ¹ Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.

² I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.

³ For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother.

⁴ Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.

⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.

⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.

⁷ The beginning of wisdom is this: Get Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get get understanding.

⁸ Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.

⁹ She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”

¹⁰ Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.

¹¹ I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.

¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.

¹³ Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.

¹⁴ Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.

¹⁵ Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.

¹⁶ For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.

¹⁷ They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸ The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

¹⁹ But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.

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 health to one’s whole body.

²³ Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

²⁴ Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.

²⁶ Give careful thought to the Or Make level paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. ²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.