WEBVTT - Proverbs 4

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<v Speaker 1>Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your

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<v Speaker 1>walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Studyheadquarters dot com.

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<v Speaker 1>You're listening to the chapter today Audio Bible. I'm John Stangey,

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<v Speaker 1>and today we're in Proverbs chapter four, and we'll be

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<v Speaker 1>reading from the New Living Translation. My children, listen when

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<v Speaker 1>your father corrects you, pay attention and learn good judgment,

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<v Speaker 1>for I am giving you good guidance. Don't turn away

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<v Speaker 1>from my instructions. For I too was once my father's son,

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<v Speaker 1>tenderly loved as my mother's only child. My father taught me.

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<v Speaker 1>Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you

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<v Speaker 1>will live. Get wisdom, develop good judgment. Don't forget my

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<v Speaker 1>words or turn away from them. Don't turn your back

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<v Speaker 1>on wisdom, for he will protect you. Love her and

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<v Speaker 1>she will guard you. Getting wisdom is the wisest thing

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<v Speaker 1>you can do. And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.

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<v Speaker 1>If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace

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<v Speaker 1>her and she will honor you. She will place a

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<v Speaker 1>lovely wreath on your head. She will present you with

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<v Speaker 1>a beautiful crown. My child, listen to me and do

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<v Speaker 1>as I say, and you will have a long, good life.

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<v Speaker 1>I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in

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<v Speaker 1>straight paths. When you walk, you won't be held back.

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<v Speaker 1>When you run, you won't stumble. Take hold of my instructions,

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<v Speaker 1>don't let them go, guard them, for they are the

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<v Speaker 1>key to life. Don't do as the wicked do, and

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<v Speaker 1>don't follow the path of evildoers. Don't even think about it.

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<v Speaker 1>Don't go that way, Turn away and keep moving. For

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<v Speaker 1>evil people can't sleep until they've done their evil deed

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<v Speaker 1>for the day. They can't rest until they've caused someone

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<v Speaker 1>to stumble. They eat the food of wickedness and drink

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<v Speaker 1>the wine of violence. The way of the righteous is

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<v Speaker 1>like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter

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<v Speaker 1>until the full light of day. But the way of

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<v Speaker 1>the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea

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<v Speaker 1>what they are stumbling over. My child, Pay attention to

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<v Speaker 1>what I say, Listen carefully to my words, don't lose

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<v Speaker 1>sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart,

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<v Speaker 1>for they bring life to those who find them, and

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<v Speaker 1>healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else,

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<v Speaker 1>for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all

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<v Speaker 1>perverse talk, stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead

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<v Speaker 1>and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark

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<v Speaker 1>out a straight path for your feet. Stay on the

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<v Speaker 1>safe path, don't get sidetracked, keep your feet from following evil.

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<v Speaker 1>Let's pray. Lord, we thank you for your word, and

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<v Speaker 1>we thank you for the privilege of being able to

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<v Speaker 1>look at this portion of scripture today. And we thank

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<v Speaker 1>you for giving us these instructions in your word that

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<v Speaker 1>encourage us to obtain wisdom. And Lord, you encourage us

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<v Speaker 1>likewise to guard our hearts so that our hearts aren't

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<v Speaker 1>going in the direction of the things of this world,

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<v Speaker 1>craving after or lusting after things that have no ultimate

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<v Speaker 1>power to satisfy our soul. Lord, we know that our

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<v Speaker 1>souls are only satisfied, we're only made complete, We're only

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<v Speaker 1>made whole through faith in your son Jesus Christ. So Lord,

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<v Speaker 1>we pray that we would be well aware of that,

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<v Speaker 1>and we pray that throughout the course of our lives

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<v Speaker 1>that we would put you first in all matters, in

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<v Speaker 1>all areas. Lord, we love you, We thank you for

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<v Speaker 1>the wisdom that you give to us from your word,

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<v Speaker 1>and we pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.