Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Tie them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.(A)
Then you will find favor and high regard
with God and people.(B)

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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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Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

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Wisdom Brings Happiness

13 Happy is a man who finds wisdom(A)
and who acquires understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver,
and her revenue is better than gold.(B)
15 She is more precious than jewels;(C)
nothing you desire can equal her.(D)
16 Long life[a] is in her right hand;
in her left, riches and honor.(E)
17 Her ways are pleasant,(F)
and all her paths, peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life(G) to those who embrace her,
and those who hold on to her are happy.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:16 Lit Length of days

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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13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

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35 The wise will inherit honor,
but he holds up fools to dishonor.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 3:35 Or but haughty fools dishonor, or but fools exalt dishonor

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

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35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

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Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom.
And whatever else you get, get understanding.(A)
Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
if you embrace her, she will honor you.(B)
She will place a garland of favor on your head;
she will give you a crown of beauty.”(C)

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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

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

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The remembrance of the righteous is a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.(A)

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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.

The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

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16 A gracious woman gains honor,
but violent[a] people gain only riches.

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Footnotes

  1. 11:16 Or ruthless

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

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16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

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26 People will curse(A) anyone who hoards grain,
but a blessing will come to the one who sells it.(B)

27 The one who searches for what is good(C) seeks favor,
but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.(D)

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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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26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

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A man is praised for his insight,
but a twisted mind is despised.

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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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A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

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Better to be disregarded, yet have a servant,
than to act important but have no food.(A)

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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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He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

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