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My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
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For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
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Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
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So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
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¶ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
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In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
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¶ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
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It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
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Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
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So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
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¶ My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:
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For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
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¶ Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
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For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
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She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
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Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
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Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
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She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
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The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
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By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
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¶ My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
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So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
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Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
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When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
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Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
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For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
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¶ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
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Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
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Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
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¶ Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
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¶ Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
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For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.
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¶ The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
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Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
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The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.