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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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Integrity of wisdom

21 My son, don’t let them slip from your eyes;
    hold on to sound judgment and discretion.
22 They will be life for your whole being,
    and an ornament for your neck.
23 Then you will walk safely on your path,
    and your foot won’t stumble.
24 If you lie down, you won’t be terrified.
    When you lie down, your sleep will be pleasant.
25 Don’t fear sudden terror
    or the ruin that comes to the wicked.
26 The Lord will be your confidence;
    he will guard your feet from being snared.

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

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Those who do right are saved by their righteousness,
    but the untrustworthy are caught by their own desires.

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

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The righteous are saved from distress,
    and the wicked take their place.

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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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15 Guaranteeing the debt of a stranger brings big trouble,
    but the one who refuses to shake hands will be secure.

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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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The words of the wicked are a deathtrap,
    but the speech of those who do right rescues them.
The wicked are destroyed and are no more,
    but the family of the righteous will endure.

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

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13 The wicked are trapped by the transgressions of their lips,
    but the righteous escape from distress.

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

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21 No harm happens to the righteous,
    but the wicked receive their fill of trouble.

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

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People who watch their mouths guard their lives,
    but those who open their lips are ruined.

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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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14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
    turning a person away from deathtraps.

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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.

24 For those with insight, life is an upward path,
    avoiding the grave [a] below.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:24 Heb Sheol

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

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27 Those who acquire things unjustly gain trouble for their house,
    but those who hate bribes will live.

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

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16 Those who keep the commandment preserve their lives;
    those who disregard their ways will die.

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