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Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.
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1Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless,
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for their 2Redeemer is strong; he will 3plead their cause against you.
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Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.
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Do not withhold 4discipline from a child; 5if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
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If you strike him with the rod, you will 6save his soul from Sheol.
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7My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.
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My 8inmost being will exult when your lips speak 9what is right.
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Let not your heart 10envy sinners, but continue in 11the fear of the LORD all the day.
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Surely 12there is a future, and your 13hope will not be cut off.
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Hear, my son, and 14be wise, and 15direct your heart in the way.
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Be not among 16drunkards or among 17gluttonous eaters of meat,
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for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and 18slumber will clothe them with rags
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19Listen to your father who gave you life, 20and do not despise your mother when she is old.
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21Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
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22The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
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23Let your father and mother be glad; let 24her who bore you rejoice.
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My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
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For a prostitute is 25a deep pit; 26an adulteress is a narrow 27well.
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28She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind.
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29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has 30wounds without cause? Who has 31redness of eyes?