18 She is (A)a tree of life to those who (B)lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called blessed.

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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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32 “And now, (A)O sons, listen to me:
    (B)blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 (C)Hear instruction and be wise,
    and do not neglect it.
34 (D)Blessed is the one who listens to me,
    watching daily at my gates,
    waiting beside my doors.
35 For (E)whoever finds me (F)finds life
    and (G)obtains favor from the Lord,
36 but he who fails to find me (H)injures himself;
    all who (I)hate me (J)love death.”

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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.
35 For he who finds me is he who finds[a] life,
    and he obtains favor from Yahweh.
36 But he who misses me injures himself.[b]
    All those who hate me love death.”

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:35 Hebrew “those who find”
  2. Proverbs 8:36 Or “soul,” or “inner self”

28 (A)The hope of the righteous brings joy,
    (B)but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

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28 The hope of the righteous is gladness,
    but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.

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25 (A)Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,
    but a good word makes him glad.

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25 Anxiety in the heart[a] of a man will weigh him down,
    but a good word will cheer him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:25 Or “mind”

13 (A)A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but by (B)sorrow of heart the spirit is (C)crushed.

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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 afflicted are evil,
    but (A)the cheerful of 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 (A)The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and (B)good news refreshes[a] the bones.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew 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 Whoever gives thought to the word[a] (A)will discover good,
    and blessed is he (B)who trusts in the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:20 Or to a matter

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

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22 (A)A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit (B)dries up the bones.

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22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a downcast spirit will dry out bones.

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25 (A)Let your father and mother be glad;
    let (B)her who bore you rejoice.

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25 May your father and your mother be glad,
    and may she who bore you rejoice.

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17 (A)Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
    and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased,
    and turn away his anger from him.

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17 While your enemies are falling, do not rejoice;
    when he trips himself, may your heart[a] not be glad
18 lest Yahweh see and it be evil in his eyes,
    and turn his anger away from him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:17 Or “mind”

20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
    but whoever hastens to be rich (A)will not go unpunished.

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20 A man of faithfulness has abundant blessings,
    but he who hurries to become rich will not go unpunished.

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18 Where (A)there is no prophetic vision the people (B)cast off restraint,[a]
    but blessed is he who (C)keeps the law.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:18 Or the people are discouraged

18 When there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint,
    but as for he who guards instruction, happiness is his.

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