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Don’t let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
    Bind them on your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will find favor and approval
    in the eyes of God and humanity.

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Let love and faithfulness(A) never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.(B)
Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.(C)

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Value of wisdom

13 Happy are those who find wisdom
    and those who gain understanding.
14 Her profit is better than silver,
    and her gain better than gold.
15 Her value exceeds pearls;
    all you desire can’t compare with her.
16 In her right hand is a long life;
    in her left are wealth and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant;
    all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
    those who hold her tight are happy.

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13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.(A)
15 She is more precious than rubies;(B)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.(C)
16 Long life is in her right hand;(D)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(E)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.(F)
18 She is a tree of life(G) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.(H)

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35 The wise gain respect,
    but fools receive shame.

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35 The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.

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The beginning of wisdom:
Get wisdom!
    Get understanding before anything else.
Highly esteem her, and she will exalt you.
    She will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place a graceful wreath on your head;
    she will give you a glorious crown.”

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The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
    Though it cost all(A) you have,[b] get understanding.(B)
Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.(C)
She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
  2. Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get

The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
    but the name of the wicked rots.

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The name of the righteous(A) is used in blessings,[a]
    but the name of the wicked(B) will rot.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:7 See Gen. 48:20.

16 A gracious woman gains honor;
    violent men gain only wealth.

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16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(A)
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

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26 People curse those who hoard grain,
    but they bless those[a] who sell it.
27 Those who look for good find favor,
    but those who seek evil—it will come to them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:26 Or the heads of those

26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
    but evil comes to one who searches for it.(A)

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A person is praised for his insight,
    but a warped mind leads to contempt.

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A person is praised according to their prudence,
    and one with a warped(A) mind is despised.

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Better to be held in low regard and have a servant
    than to be conceited and lack food.

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Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
    than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

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15 Good insight brings favor,
    but the way of the faithless is their ruin.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:15 LXX, Syr, Vulg; MT endures

15 Good judgment wins favor,
    but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:15 Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.

18 Poverty and shame come to those who don’t care about instruction;
    honor belongs to those who heed correction.

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18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,(A)
    but whoever heeds correction is honored.(B)

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35 The king favors an insightful servant,
    but is furious at a shameful one.

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35 A king delights in a wise servant,
    but a shameful servant arouses his fury.(A)

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33 The fear of the Lord is wise instruction,
    and humility comes before respect.

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33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,(A)
    and humility comes before honor.(B)

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