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12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud,
    but before honor is humility.

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12 Haughtiness goes before destruction;
    humility precedes honor.

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12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
    but humility comes before honor.(A)

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14 A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness,
    but a crushed spirit, who can bear?

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14 The human spirit can endure a sick body,
    but who can bear a crushed spirit?

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14 The human spirit can endure in sickness,
    but a crushed spirit who can bear?(A)

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The foolishness of man subverts his way;
    his heart rages against Yahweh.

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People ruin their lives by their own foolishness
    and then are angry at the Lord.

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A person’s own folly(A) leads to their ruin,
    yet their heart rages against the Lord.(B)

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20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
    that you may be wise in your latter end.

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20 Get all the advice and instruction you can,
    so you will be wise the rest of your life.

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20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,(A)
    and at the end you will be counted among the wise.(B)

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Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
    but a man of understanding will draw it out.

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Though good advice lies deep within the heart,
    a person with understanding will draw it out.

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The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,(A)
    but one who has insight draws them out.

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27 The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp,
    searching all his innermost parts.

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27 The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit,[a]
    exposing every hidden motive.

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Footnotes

  1. 20:27 Or The human spirit is the Lord’s light.

27 The human spirit is[a] the lamp of the Lord(A)
    that sheds light on one’s inmost being.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:27 Or A person’s words are

21 The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses.
    He turns it wherever he desires.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
    but Yahweh weighs the hearts.

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21 The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;
    he guides it wherever he pleases.

People may be right in their own eyes,
    but the Lord examines their heart.

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21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
    that he channels toward all who please him.(A)

A person may think their own ways are right,
    but the Lord weighs the heart.(B)

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11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully
    is the king’s friend.

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11 Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech
    will have the king as a friend.

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11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
    will have the king for a friend.(A)

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12 Apply your heart to instruction,
    and your ears to the words of knowledge.

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12 Commit yourself to instruction;
    listen carefully to words of knowledge.

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Saying 12

12 Apply your heart to instruction(A)
    and your ears to words of knowledge.

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