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21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes.
    Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 so they will be life to your soul,
    and grace for your neck.
23 Then you shall walk in your way securely.
    Your foot won’t stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid.
    Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Don’t be afraid of sudden fear,
    neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;
26 for Yahweh will be your confidence,
    and will keep your foot from being taken.

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Benefits of Wisdom

21 My son, do not let wisdom[a] leave your sight.
    Carefully observe sound judgment and discernment,
22 and they will be life to you
    and a graceful ornament[b] for your neck.
23 Then you will travel safely on your way,
    and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you sit[c] down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, your sleep will be pleasant.[d]
25 Do not be afraid of sudden disaster,[e]
    or the devastation that comes to the wicked.
26 Indeed, the Lord will be your confidence,
    and he will keep your foot from being caught.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:21 The Heb. lacks wisdom
  2. Proverbs 3:22 Lit. grace
  3. Proverbs 3:24 So LXX; MT reads lie
  4. Proverbs 3:24 Or sweet
  5. Proverbs 3:25 Lit. terror

The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them,
    but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.

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The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the treacherous are trapped by their evil desires.

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A righteous person is delivered out of trouble,
    and the wicked takes his place.

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The righteous person is delivered from trouble;
    it comes upon the wicked instead.

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15 He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it,
    but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.

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15 Securing a loan for a stranger will bring suffering,
    but by refusing to do so, one remains safe.

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The words of the wicked are about lying in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.
The wicked are overthrown, and are no more,
    but the house of the righteous shall stand.

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The words of the wicked lead to[a] bloodshed,
    but the speech of the upright delivers them.
After they’re overthrown, the wicked won’t be found,
    but the house of the righteous stands firm.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:6 Lit. wicked lie in wait for

13 An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips,
    but the righteous shall come out of trouble.

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13 An evil man’s sinful speech ensnares him,
    but the righteous person escapes from trouble.

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21 No mischief shall happen to the righteous,
    but the wicked shall be filled with evil.

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21 No harm overwhelms the righteous,
    but the wicked overflow with trouble.

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He who guards his mouth guards his soul.
    One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

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Anyone who guards his words protects his life;
    anyone who talks too much[a] is ruined.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:3 Lit. who opens wide his lips

14 The teaching of the wise is a spring of life,
    to turn from the snares of death.

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14 What the wise have to teach is a fountain of life
    and causes someone to avoid the snares of death.

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24 The path of life leads upward for the wise,
    to keep him from going downward to Sheol.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 15:24 Sheol is the place of the dead.

24 The way of life leads upward for the wise
    so he may avoid Sheol[a] below.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:24 I.e. the realm of the dead

27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
    but he who hates bribes will live.

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27 Those who are greedy for unjust gain bring trouble into their homes,
    but the person who hates bribes will live.

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16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
    but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.

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16 Whoever obeys a commandment keeps himself safe,[a]
    but someone who is contemptuous in conduct[b] will die.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:16 Lit. keeps his soul
  2. Proverbs 19:16 Lit. in his way