A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold,(A)
and the Lord is the tester of hearts.(B)

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The crucible is for silver
    and the furnace for gold—
        but the Lord assays hearts.

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10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;(A)
the righteous run to it and are protected.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. 18:10 Lit raised high

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
    a righteous person rushes to it and is lifted up above the danger.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:10 The Heb. lacks above the danger

24 One with many friends may be harmed,[a]
but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 18:24 Some LXX mss, Syr, Tg, Vg read friends must be friendly

24 A man with many[a] friends can still be ruined,
    but one who keeps on loving sticks closer than a brother.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:24 The Heb. lacks many

17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord,(A)
and he will give a reward to the lender.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. 19:17 Lit to him

17 Whoever is kind to the poor is lending to the Lord
    the benefit of his gift will return to him in abundance.

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21 Many plans are in a person’s heart,
but the Lord’s decree will prevail.(A)

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21 Many plans occupy the mind[a] of a man,
    but the Lord’s purposes will prevail.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:21 Lit. heart
  2. Proverbs 19:21 Or will be established

12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye—
the Lord made them both.(A)

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12 The ear that hears and the eye that sees—
    the Lord surely made them both.

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22 Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!” (A)
Wait on the Lord,(B) and he will rescue you.(C)

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22 Don’t say “I’ll avenge that wrong!”
    Wait on the Lord and he will deliver you.

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24 Even a courageous person’s steps are determined by the Lord,(A)
so how can anyone understand his own way?

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24 A man’s steps are directed by the Lord;
    how then can anyone understand his own way?

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27 The Lord’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life,[a]
searching the innermost parts.[b](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 20:27 Lit breath
  2. 20:27 Lit the chambers of the belly

27 A person’s spirit is the lamp of the Lord;
    it searches throughout one’s innermost being.

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Doing what is righteous and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(A)

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To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

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30 No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel
will prevail against the Lord.(A)

31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle,(B)
but victory comes from the Lord.(C)

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30 No wisdom, insight, or counsel
    can prevail[a] against the Lord.

31 The horse may be prepared for the day of battle,
    but to the Lord goes the victory.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:30 The Heb. lacks can prevail

Rich and poor have this in common:[a]
the Lord makes them all.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 22:2 Lit poor meet

The rich and the poor have this in common—
    the Lord created both of them.

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