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

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18 She is a tree of life for those who embrace her,
    and whoever clutches her tightly will be joyful.

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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)
35 For whoever finds me finds life
    and obtains favor from the Lord,(C)
36 but those who miss me injure themselves;
    all who hate me love death.”(D)

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The Exhortation of Wisdom

32 “So listen to me, children!
    Blessed are those who obey me.
33 Listen to instruction and be wise.
    Don’t ignore it.
34 Blessed is the person who listens to me,
    watching daily at my gates,
        waiting at my doorways—
35 because those who find me find life
    and gain favor from the Lord.
36 But whoever sins against me destroys himself;
    everyone who hates me loves death.”

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

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28 What the righteous hope for brings joy,
    but the expectation of the wicked dies.

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

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25 A person’s anxiety weighs down his heart,
    but an appropriate word is encouraging.

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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 happy heart enlightens the face,
    but a sad heart reflects a broken spirit.

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15 All the days of the poor are hard,
    but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

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15 The entire life[a] of the afflicted seems disastrous,
    but a good heart feasts continuously.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:15 Lit. All the days

30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and good news refreshes the body.

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30 Bright eyes[a] encourage the heart;
    good news nourishes the body.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:30 Or A cheerful look
  2. Proverbs 15:30 Lit. bones

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 Whoever listens to a word of instruction prospers,
    and anyone who trusts in the Lord is blessed.

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

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22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a broken spirit drains one’s strength.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:22 Lit. spirit dries the bones

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

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25 Let your father and mother rejoice;
    make the one who gave birth to you happy.

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17 Do not rejoice when your enemies fall,
    and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble,(A)
18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased
    and turn away his anger from them.

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17 Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls;
    don’t let yourself be glad when he stumbles.
18 Otherwise the Lord will observe and disapprove,
    and he will turn his anger away from him.

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20 The faithful will abound with blessings,
    but one who is in a hurry to be rich will not go unpunished.(A)

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20 The faithful man will prosper with blessings,
    but whoever is in a hurry to get rich
        will not escape punishment.

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18 Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint,
    but happy are those who keep the law.(A)

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18 Without prophetic vision, people abandon restraint,
    but those who obey the Law are happy.

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