Wisdom Brings Happiness

13 Happy is a man who finds wisdom(A)
and who acquires understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver,
and her revenue is better than gold.(B)
15 She is more precious than jewels;(C)
nothing you desire compares with her.(D)
16 Long life[a] is in her right hand;
in her left, riches and honor.(E)
17 Her ways are pleasant,(F)
and all her paths, peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life(G) to those who embrace her,
and those who hold on to her are happy.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days

13 Happy is the one[a] who finds wisdom,
    and one who obtains understanding.
14 For her[b] income is better than the income of silver,
    and her revenue than that of gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
    and all your desires shall not compare with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life for those who seize her;
    those who take hold of her are considered happy.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:13 Literally “a man”
  2. Proverbs 3:14 Or “its”; both “wisdom” and “understanding” are feminine nouns and can be read as either “she” or “it”

32 “And now, my sons, listen to me;
those who keep my ways are happy.(A)
33 Listen to instruction and be wise;(B)
don’t ignore it.
34 Anyone who listens to me is happy,(C)
watching at my doors every day,
waiting by the posts of my doorway.

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Benefits of Following Wisdom

32 “And now, children, listen to me;
    happy are those who will keep my ways.
33 Hear teaching and be wise;
    do not neglect it.
34 Happy is the person who listens to me,
    in order to keep watch at my doors day by day,
    in order to guard the frames of my entrances.

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14 A man will be satisfied with good
by the words of his mouth,(A)
and the work of a man’s hands will reward him.(B)

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14 From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he is filled with good,
    and the reward of a man’s labor[a] will return to him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:14 Literally “the hands of a man”

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

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20 Deceit is in the heart[a] of those who plan[b] evil,
    but to those who plan[c] peace, there is joy.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:20 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 12:20 Literally “the planners of”
  3. Proverbs 12:20 Literally “the planners of”

21 The one who despises his neighbor sins,(A)
but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.(B)

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21 He who despises his neighbor is a sinner,
    but he who has mercy on the poor blesses him.

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13 A joyful heart makes a face cheerful,
but a sad heart produces a broken spirit.(A)

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13 A heart[a] of gladness will make good countenance,[b]
    but in sorrow of heart[c] a spirit is broken.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:13 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 15:13 Literally “faces”
  3. Proverbs 15:13 Or “mind”

15 All the days of the oppressed are miserable,
but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

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15 All the days of the poor are hard,
    but goodness of heart[a] is a continuous feast.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:15 Or “mind”

30 Bright eyes cheer the heart;
good news strengthens[a] the bones.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:30 Lit makes fat

30 From the light of the eyes, the heart[a] will rejoice,
    and good news will enliven the bones.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:30 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew “bone”

20 The one who understands a matter finds success,(A)
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.(B)

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20 He who is attentive to a matter will find goodness,
    and he who trusts in Yahweh, his own happiness.

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15 My son, if your heart is wise,
my heart will indeed rejoice.(A)
16 My innermost being will cheer
when your lips say what is right.(B)

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15 My child, if your heart[a] is wise,
    my heart will be glad—even me!
16 And my insides[b] will rejoice
    when your lips speak what is upright.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:15 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 23:16 Literally “kidneys”