Let not (A)steadfast love and (B)faithfulness forsake you;
    (C)bind them around your neck;
    (D)write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will (E)find favor and (F)good success[a]
    in the sight of God and man.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:4 Or repute

Don’t let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
    Bind them on your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will find favor and approval
    in the eyes of God and humanity.

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Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

13 (A)Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding,
14 (B)for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
    and her profit better than (C)gold.
15 She is more precious than (D)jewels,
    and (E)nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 (F)Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are (G)riches and honor.
17 Her (H)ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
18 She is (I)a tree of life to those who (J)lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called blessed.

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Value of wisdom

13 Happy are those who find wisdom
    and those who gain understanding.
14 Her profit is better than silver,
    and her gain better than gold.
15 Her value exceeds pearls;
    all you desire can’t compare with her.
16 In her right hand is a long life;
    in her left are wealth and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant;
    all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
    those who hold her tight are happy.

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35 The wise will inherit honor,
    but fools get[a] disgrace.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:35 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain

35 The wise gain respect,
    but fools receive shame.

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(A)The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
    and whatever you get, get (B)insight.
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
    she will (C)honor you (D)if you embrace her.
She will place on your head (E)a graceful garland;
    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

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The beginning of wisdom:
Get wisdom!
    Get understanding before anything else.
Highly esteem her, and she will exalt you.
    She will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place a graceful wreath on your head;
    she will give you a glorious crown.”

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(A)The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
    but (B)the name of the wicked will rot.

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The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
    but the name of the wicked rots.

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16 (A)A gracious woman gets honor,
    and (B)violent men get riches.

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16 A gracious woman gains honor;
    violent men gain only wealth.

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26 (A)The people curse him who holds back grain,
    but (B)a blessing is on the head of him who (C)sells it.
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,[a]
    but evil comes to (D)him who searches for it.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:27 Or acceptance

26 People curse those who hoard grain,
    but they bless those[a] who sell it.
27 Those who look for good find favor,
    but those who seek evil—it will come to them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:26 Or the heads of those

A man is commended according to his good sense,
    but one of twisted mind is (A)despised.

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A person is praised for his insight,
    but a warped mind leads to contempt.

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Better to be lowly and have a servant
    than to play the great man and lack bread.

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Better to be held in low regard and have a servant
    than to be conceited and lack food.

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15 (A)Good sense wins (B)favor,
    but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:15 Probable reading (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate); Hebrew is rugged, or is an enduring rut

15 Good insight brings favor,
    but the way of the faithless is their ruin.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:15 LXX, Syr, Vulg; MT endures

18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who (A)ignores instruction,
    (B)but whoever (C)heeds reproof is honored.

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18 Poverty and shame come to those who don’t care about instruction;
    honor belongs to those who heed correction.

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35 A servant who deals wisely has (A)the king's favor,
    but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

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35 The king favors an insightful servant,
    but is furious at a shameful one.

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