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

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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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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.”

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Footnotes

  1. 8:32 Hebrew my sons.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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

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

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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.

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

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

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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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