For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.(A)
He stores up success[a] for the upright;
He is a shield for those who live with integrity(B)
so that he may guard the paths of justice
and protect the way of his faithful followers.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:7 Or resourcefulness

For (A)the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a (B)shield to those who walk in integrity,
Guarding the paths of justice,
And He (C)watches over the way of His godly ones.

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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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Do not let (A)kindness and truth leave you;
(B)Bind them around your neck,
(C)Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will (D)find favor and a (E)good [a]reputation
In the sight of God and man.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:4 Lit understanding

11 Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son,
and do not loathe his discipline;(A)

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11 (A)My son, do not reject the [a]discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His rebuke,

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:11 Or instruction

21 For a man’s ways are before the Lord’s eyes,(A)
and he considers all his paths.(B)

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21 For the (A)ways of everyone are before the eyes of the Lord,
And He (B)observes all his paths.

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What the Lord Hates

16 The Lord hates six things;
in fact, seven are detestable to him:
17 arrogant eyes,(A) a lying tongue,(B)
hands that shed innocent blood,(C)
18 a heart that plots wicked schemes,(D)
feet eager to run to evil,(E)
19 a lying witness who gives false testimony,(F)
and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.(G)

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16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
Seven that are an abomination [a]to Him:
17 (A)Haughty eyes, a (B)lying tongue,
And hands that (C)shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises (D)wicked plans,
(E)Feet that run rapidly to evil,
19 A (F)false witness who declares lies,
And one who [b](G)spreads strife among brothers.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:16 Lit of His soul
  2. Proverbs 6:19 Lit sends out

The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
observing the wicked and the good.(A)

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The (A)eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.

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11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord(A)
how much more, human hearts.(B)

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11 [a](A)Sheol and [b]Abaddon lie open before the Lord,
How much more the (B)hearts of [c]mankind!

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:11 I.e., The netherworld
  2. Proverbs 15:11 I.e., place of destruction
  3. Proverbs 15:11 Lit sons of mankind

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,(A)
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.(B)

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29 The Lord is (A)far from the wicked,
But He (B)hears the prayer of the righteous.

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16 The reflections of the heart belong to mankind,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.(A)

All a person’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord weighs motives.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. 16:2 Lit spirits

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

16 The (A)plans of the heart belong to a person,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight,
But the (B)Lord examines the [a]motives.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:2 Lit spirits

A person’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.(A)

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The mind of a (A)person plans his way,
But (B)the Lord directs his steps.

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11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are his concern.(A)

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11 A (A)just balance and scales belong to the Lord;
All the [a]weights of the bag are His [b]concern.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:11 Lit stones
  2. Proverbs 16:11 Lit work

33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.(A)

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33 The (A)lot is cast into the lap,
But its every (B)decision is from the Lord.

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