21 My son,(A) do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,(B)
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,(C)
    an ornament to grace your neck.(D)
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,(E)
    and your foot will not stumble.(F)
24 When you lie down,(G) you will not be afraid;(H)
    when you lie down, your sleep(I) will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side(J)
    and will keep your foot(K) from being snared.(L)

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21 My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.
    Hang on to them,
22 for they will refresh your soul.
    They are like jewels on a necklace.
23 They keep you safe on your way,
    and your feet will not stumble.
24 You can go to bed without fear;
    you will lie down and sleep soundly.
25 You need not be afraid of sudden disaster
    or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,
26 for the Lord is your security.
    He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

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The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.(A)

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The godliness of good people rescues them;
    the ambition of treacherous people traps them.

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The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.(A)

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The godly are rescued from trouble,
    and it falls on the wicked instead.

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15 Whoever puts up security(A) for a stranger will surely suffer,
    but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.(B)

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15 There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt;
    it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt.

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The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.(A)

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,(B)
    but the house of the righteous stands firm.(C)

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The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush,
    but the words of the godly save lives.

The wicked die and disappear,
    but the family of the godly stands firm.

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13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,(A)
    and so the innocent escape trouble.(B)

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13 The wicked are trapped by their own words,
    but the godly escape such trouble.

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21 No harm overtakes the righteous,(A)
    but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

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21 No harm comes to the godly,
    but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

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Those who guard their lips(A) preserve their lives,(B)
    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.(C)

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Those who control their tongue will have a long life;
    opening your mouth can ruin everything.

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14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,(A)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(B)

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14 The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain;
    those who accept it avoid the snares of death.

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24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent
    to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.

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24 The path of life leads upward for the wise;
    they leave the grave[a] behind.

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Footnotes

  1. 15:24 Hebrew Sheol.

27 The greedy bring ruin to their households,
    but the one who hates bribes will live.(A)

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27 Greed brings grief to the whole family,
    but those who hate bribes will live.

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16 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
    but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.(A)

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16 Keep the commandments and keep your life;
    despising them leads to death.

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