21 My son, see that (A)they do not escape from your sight;
Comply with sound wisdom and discretion,
22 And they will be (B)life to your soul
And (C)adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will (D)walk in your way securely,
And your foot will not (E)stumble.
24 When you (F)lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 (G)Do not be afraid of sudden danger,
Nor of (H)trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be [a]your confidence,
And will (I)keep your foot from being caught.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:26 Or at your side

21 My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.
    Hang on to them,
22 for they will refresh your soul.
    They are like jewels on a necklace.
23 They keep you safe on your way,
    and your feet will not stumble.
24 You can go to bed without fear;
    you will lie down and sleep soundly.
25 You need not be afraid of sudden disaster
    or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,
26 for the Lord is your security.
    He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

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The righteousness of the upright will rescue them,
But the treacherous will (A)be caught by their own greed.

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The godliness of good people rescues them;
    the ambition of treacherous people traps them.

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The righteous is rescued from trouble,
But the wicked [a]takes his place.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:8 Lit enters

The godly are rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.

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15 One who is a (A)guarantor for a stranger will certainly suffer for it,
But one who hates [a]being a guarantor is secure.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:15 Lit those who strike hands

15 There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt;
    it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt.

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The (A)words of the wicked wait in ambush for blood,
But the (B)mouth of the upright will rescue them.
The (C)wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the (D)house of the righteous will stand.

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The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush,
    but the words of the godly save lives.

The wicked die and disappear,
    but the family of the godly stands firm.

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13 [a]An evil person is ensnared by the offense of his lips,
But the (A)righteous will escape from trouble.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:13 Lit In the offense of the lips is an evil snare

13 The wicked are trapped by their own words,
    but the godly escape such trouble.

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21 (A)No harm happens to the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.

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21 No harm comes to the godly,
    but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

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One who (A)guards his mouth protects his life;
One who (B)opens wide his lips [a]comes to ruin.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:3 Lit ruin is his

Those who control their tongue will have a long life;
    opening your mouth can ruin everything.

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14 The [a]teaching of the wise is a (A)fountain of life,
To turn aside from the (B)snares of death.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:14 Or law

14 The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain;
    those who accept it avoid the snares of death.

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24 The (A)path of life leads upward for the wise,
So that he may keep away from [a]Sheol below.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:24 I.e., the netherworld

24 The path of life leads upward for the wise;
    they leave the grave[a] behind.

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Footnotes

  1. 15:24 Hebrew Sheol.

27 He who (A)profits illicitly troubles his own house,
But he who (B)hates bribes will live.

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27 Greed brings grief to the whole family,
    but those who hate bribes will live.

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16 One who (A)keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But one who [a]is careless of [b]conduct will die.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:16 Lit despises
  2. Proverbs 19:16 Lit ways

16 Keep the commandments and keep your life;
    despising them leads to death.

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