Add parallel Print Page Options

18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
    happy are those who hold her tightly.

Read full chapter

18 She is a tree of life for those who seize her;
    those who take hold of her are considered happy.

Read full chapter

32 “And so, my children,[a] listen to me,
    for all who follow my ways are joyful.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise.
    Don’t ignore it.
34 Joyful are those who listen to me,
    watching for me daily at my gates,
    waiting for me outside my home!
35 For whoever finds me finds life
    and receives favor from the Lord.
36 But those who miss me injure themselves.
    All who hate me love death.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 8:32 Hebrew my sons.

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.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

28 The hopes of the godly result in happiness,
    but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

25 Worry weighs a person down;
    an encouraging word cheers a person up.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:25 Or “mind”

13 A glad heart makes a happy face;
    a broken heart crushes the spirit.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

15 For the despondent, every day brings trouble;
    for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:15 Or “mind”

30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart;
    good news makes for good health.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

20 Those who listen to instruction will prosper;
    those who trust the Lord will be joyful.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

25 So give your father and mother joy!
    May she who gave you birth be happy.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

17 Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall;
    don’t be happy when they stumble.
18 For the Lord will be displeased with you
    and will turn his anger away from them.

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:17 Or “mind”

20 The trustworthy person will get a rich reward,
    but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

18 When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.
    But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter