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20 
My son, pay attention to my words and be willing to learn;
Open your ears to my sayings.
21 
Do not let them escape from your sight;
Keep them in the center of your 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 
Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs 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 righteous is like precious silver (greatly valued);
The 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 who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.

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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 heart full of joy and goodness makes a cheerful face,
But when a heart is full of sadness the spirit is crushed.(A)

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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 afflicted are bad,
But a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of the circumstances].

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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 hearts of others,
And good news puts fat on the bones.

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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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Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

16 The plans and reflections of the heart belong to man,
But the [wise] answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

All the ways of a man are clean and innocent in his own eyes [and he may see nothing wrong with his actions],
But the Lord weighs and examines the motives and intents [of the heart and knows the truth].(A)

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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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Everyone who is proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting and exceedingly offensive to the Lord;
Be assured he will not go unpunished.(A)

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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 will be called understanding,
And sweet speech increases persuasiveness and learning [in both speaker and listener].
22 
Understanding (spiritual insight) is a [refreshing and boundless] wellspring of life to those who have it,
But to give instruction and correction to fools is foolishness.
23 
The heart of the wise instructs his mouth [in wisdom]
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

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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 refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But the Lord tests hearts.(A)

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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 happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing,
But a broken spirit dries up the bones.(A)

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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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