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Hear, my son, and 1be wise, and 2direct your heart in the way.
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Be not among 3drunkards or among 4gluttonous eaters of meat,
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for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and 5slumber will clothe them with rags
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6Listen to your father who gave you life, 7and do not despise your mother when she is old.
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8Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
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9The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
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10Let your father and mother be glad; let 11her 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 12a deep pit; 13an adulteress is a narrow 14well.
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15She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind.
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16Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has 17wounds without cause? Who has 18redness of eyes?
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Those who 19tarry long over wine; those who go to try 20mixed wine.
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Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
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In the end it 21bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.
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Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter 22perverse things.
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You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast.
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"They 23struck me," you will say,"but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I 24must have another drink."