18 She is a tree of life(A) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.(B)

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18 She is a tree of life(A) to those who embrace her,
and those who hold on to her are happy.

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32 “Now then, my children, listen(A) to me;
    blessed are(B) those who keep my ways.(C)
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
    do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen(D) to me,
    watching daily at my doors,
    waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me(E) find life(F)
    and receive favor from the Lord.(G)
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;(H)
    all who hate me love death.”(I)

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32 “And now, 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.
35 For the one who finds me finds life(D)
and obtains favor from the Lord,(E)
36 but the one who misses me[a] harms himself;(F)
all who hate me love death.”(G)

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Footnotes

  1. 8:36 Or who sins against me

28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
    but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.(A)

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

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25 Anxiety weighs down the heart,(A)
    but a kind word cheers it up.

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25 Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down,
but a good word cheers it up.(A)

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13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,(A)
    but heartache crushes the spirit.(B)

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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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15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
    but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.(A)

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

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30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.(A)

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

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Footnotes

  1. 15:30 Lit makes fat

20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[a](A)
    and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good

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

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

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25 May your father and mother rejoice;
    may she who gave you birth be joyful!(A)

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25 Let your father and mother have joy,(A)
and let her who gave birth to you rejoice.

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Saying 28

17 Do not gloat(A) when your enemy falls;
    when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,(B)
18 or the Lord will see and disapprove
    and turn his wrath away from them.(C)

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17 Don’t gloat when your enemy falls,
and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,(A)
18 or the Lord will see, be displeased,
and turn his wrath away from him.

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20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,
    but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.(A)

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20 A faithful person will have many blessings,(A)
but one in a hurry to get rich(B)
will not go unpunished.

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18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
    but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.(A)

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18 Without revelation[a](A) people run wild,(B)
but one who follows divine instruction will be happy.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 29:18 Lit vision