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The True Wealth

13 Happy are those who find wisdom
    and those who get understanding,
14 for her income is better than silver
    and her revenue better than gold.(A)
15 She is more precious than jewels,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.(B)
16 Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(C)
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.(D)
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called happy.(E)

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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 children, listen to me:
    happy are those who keep my ways.(A)
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
    and do not neglect it.
34 Happy is the one who listens to me,
    watching daily at my gates,
    waiting beside my doors.(B)

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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 From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things,
    and manual labor has its reward.(A)

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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 mind of those who plan evil,
    but those who counsel 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 Those who despise their neighbors are sinners,
    but happy are those who are kind to the poor.(A)

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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 glad heart makes a cheerful countenance,
    but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.(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 poor are hard,
    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 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and good news refreshes the body.

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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 Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper,
    and happy are those who trust in the Lord.(A)

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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 child, if your heart is wise,
    my heart also will be glad.
16 My soul will rejoice
    when your lips speak what is right.

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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”