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

Integrity of wisdom

21 My son, don’t let them slip from your eyes;
    hold on to sound judgment and discretion.
22 They will be life for your whole being,
    and an ornament for your neck.
23 Then you will walk safely on your path,
    and your foot won’t stumble.
24 If you lie down, you won’t be terrified.
    When you lie down, your sleep will be pleasant.
25 Don’t fear sudden terror
    or the ruin that comes to the wicked.
26 The Lord will be your confidence;
    he will guard your feet from being snared.

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21 My son,(A) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,(B)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,(C)
    an ornament to grace your neck.(D)
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,(E)
    and your foot will not stumble.(F)
24 When you lie down,(G) you will not be afraid;(H)
    when you lie down, your sleep(I) will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side(J)
    and will keep your foot(K) from being snared.(L)

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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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Those who do right are saved by their righteousness,
    but the untrustworthy are caught by their own desires.

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The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.(A)

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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 righteous are saved from distress,
    and the wicked take their place.

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The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.(A)

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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 Guaranteeing the debt of a stranger brings big trouble,
    but the one who refuses to shake hands will be secure.

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15 Whoever puts up security(A) for a stranger will surely suffer,
    but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.(B)

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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 a deathtrap,
    but the speech of those who do right rescues them.
The wicked are destroyed and are no more,
    but the family of the righteous will endure.

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The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.(A)

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,(B)
    but the house of the righteous stands firm.(C)

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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 the transgressions of their lips,
    but the righteous escape from distress.

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13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,(A)
    and so the innocent escape trouble.(B)

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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 happens to the righteous,
    but the wicked receive their fill of trouble.

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21 No harm overtakes the righteous,(A)
    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

People who watch their mouths guard their lives,
    but those who open their lips are ruined.

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Those who guard their lips(A) preserve their lives,(B)
    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.(C)

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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 teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
    turning a person away from deathtraps.

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14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,(A)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(B)

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