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20 ¶ My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my words.

21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

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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;

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23 Above all else, guard thy heart; for out of it flows the issues of life.

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23 Above all else, guard(A) your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.(B)

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20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver, but the understanding {Heb. heart} of the wicked is worth little.

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20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
    but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

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20 ¶ Deceit is in the heart of those whose thoughts are evil, but joy in that of those whose thoughts are good.

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20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
    but those who promote peace have joy.(A)

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13 ¶ A joyful heart makes a beautiful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is abated.

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13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,(A)
    but heartache crushes the spirit.(B)

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15 ¶ All the days of the poor are difficult, but he that is of a good heart has a continual feast.

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15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
    but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.(A)

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30 ¶ The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and a good report makes the bones fat.

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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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16 ¶ Of man are the preparations of the heart, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

¶ All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits.

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16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.(A)

All a person’s ways seem pure to them,(B)
    but motives are weighed(C) by the Lord.(D)

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¶ Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; the covenant that he makes, shall not be without chastening.

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The Lord detests all the proud of heart.(A)
    Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.(B)

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21 ¶ The wise in heart is called a man of understanding; and the sweetness of the lips shall increase doctrine.

22 ¶ Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that has it, but the instruction of fools is folly.

23 ¶ The heart of the wise causes his mouth to be prudent, and with his lips he shall increase doctrine.

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21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction.[a](A)

22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(B)
    but folly brings punishment to fools.

23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,(C)
    and their lips promote instruction.[b](D)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
  2. Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive

¶ The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tries the hearts.

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The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,(A)
    but the Lord tests the heart.(B)

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22 ¶ A joyful heart shall do good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

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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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12 ¶ Before being broken, the heart of man is haughty, and before coming into honour, comes being brought to humility.

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

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