A blessing of wisdom
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My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart guard my precepts.
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For they shall set before you length of days, and years of life, and peace.
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Let not mercy and truth abandon you: encircle them around your throat, and inscribe them on the tablets of your heart.
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And so shall you discover grace and good discipline, in the sight of God and men.
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Have confidence in the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend upon your own prudence.
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In all your ways, consider him, and he himself will direct your steps.
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Do not seem wise to yourself. Fear God, and withdraw from evil.
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Certainly, it shall be health to your navel, and refreshment to your bones.
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Honor the Lord with your substance, and give to him from the first of all your fruits,
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and then your storehouses will be filled with abundance, and your presses shall overflow with wine.
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My son, do not discard the discipline of the Lord, and do not fall away when you are corrected by him.
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For whomever the Lord loves, he corrects, and just as a father does with a son, he wins him over.
Wisdom is more valuable than riches
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Blessed is the man who finds wisdom and who advances to prudence.
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Her acquisition is better than trading in silver, and her fruit is better than the first and purest gold.
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She is more precious than all riches, and all that can be desired cannot prevail in comparison to her.
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Length of days is at her right hand, and at her left hand is wealth and glory.
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Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
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She is a tree of life to those who overtake her, and he who shall take hold of her is blessed.
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The Lord founded the earth on wisdom. He secured the heavens with prudence.
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By his wisdom, the abyss erupted and the clouds increased with dew.
The ways of the wise
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My son, let not these things move away from your eyes. Preserve law as well as counsel.
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And so shall there be life in your soul and grace in your voice.
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Then you shall walk confidently in your way, and your feet will not stumble.
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When you slumber, you shall not fear. When you rest, your sleep also will be sweet.
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Do not fear unexpected terror, nor the power of the impious falling upon you.
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For the Lord will be at your side, and he will guard your feet, so that you may not be seized.
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Do not prevent him who is able from doing good. When you are able, do good yourself too.
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Do not say to your friend: “Go away, and then return. Tomorrow I will give to you.” When you are able to do so, give in the present.
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Do not undertake evil against your friend, even though he has trust in you.
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Do not contend against a man without cause, even though he has done no evil to you.
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Do not rival an unjust man, and do not imitate his ways.(a)
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For everyone who ridicules is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is for the simple.
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Destitution in the house of the impious is from the Lord. But the habitations of the just shall be blessed.
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He will ridicule those who ridicule, but he will bestow grace upon the mild.
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The wise will possess glory. The exaltation of the foolish is disgraceful.
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