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Don’t depend on your own wisdom.
    Respect the Lord and refuse to do wrong.
Then your body will be healthy.
    And your bones will be strong.

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Do not be wise in your own eyes;(A)
    fear the Lord(B) and shun evil.(C)
This will bring health to your body(D)
    and nourishment to your bones.(E)

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13 Happy is the person who finds wisdom.
    And happy is the person who gets understanding.
14 Wisdom is worth more than silver.
    It brings more profit than gold.
15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies.
    Nothing you want is equal to it.
16 With her right hand wisdom offers you a long life.
    With her left hand she gives you riches and honor.
17 Wisdom will make your life pleasant.
    It will bring you peace.
18 As a tree makes fruit, wisdom gives life to those who use it.
    Everyone who uses wisdom will be 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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10 My child, listen and accept what I say.
    Then you will have a long life.

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10 Listen, my son,(A) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.(B)

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20 My child, pay attention to my words.
    Listen closely to what I say.
21 Don’t ever forget my words.
    Keep them deep within your heart.
22 These words are the secret to life for those who find them.
    They bring health to the whole body.

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20 My son,(A) pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.(B)
21 Do not let them out of your sight,(C)
    keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.(D)

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11 If you live wisely, you will live a long time.
    Wisdom will add years to your life.

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11 For through wisdom[a] your days will be many,
    and years will be added to your life.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:11 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew me

27 Whoever respects the Lord will have a long life.
    But an evil person will have his life cut short.

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27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life,(A)
    but the years of the wicked are cut short.(B)

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30 Peace of mind means a healthy body.
    But jealousy will rot your bones.

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30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.(A)

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30 Good news makes you feel better.
    Your happiness will show in your eyes.

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30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.(A)

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17 A good person stays away from evil.
    A person who watches what he does protects his life.

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17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their ways preserve their lives.(A)

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24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb.
    They make a person happy and healthy.

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24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,(A)
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.(B)

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22 A happy heart is like good medicine.
    But a broken spirit drains your strength.

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22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed(A) spirit dries up the bones.(B)

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17 Don’t envy sinners.
    But always respect the Lord.
18 If you do, you will have hope for the future.
    Your wishes will come true.

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Saying 15

17 Do not let your heart envy(A) sinners,
    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.(B)

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13 My child, eat honey because it is good.
    Honey from the honeycomb tastes sweet.
14 In the same way, wisdom is pleasing to you.
    If you find it, you have hope for the future.
Your wishes will come true.

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Saying 26

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
    honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
14 Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
    If you find it, there is a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.(A)

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