Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Tie them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.(A)
Then you will find favor and high regard
in the sight of God and man.(B)

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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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Wisdom Brings Happiness

13 Happy is a man who finds wisdom(A)
and who acquires understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver,
and her revenue is better than gold.(B)
15 She is more precious than jewels;(C)
nothing you desire compares with her.(D)
16 Long life[a] is in her right hand;
in her left, riches and honor.(E)
17 Her ways are pleasant,(F)
and all her paths, peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life(G) to those who embrace her,
and those who hold on to her are happy.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days

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 He holds up fools to dishonor.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:35 Or but haughty fools dishonor, or but fools exalt dishonor

35 The wise gain respect,
    but fools receive shame.

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Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom.
And whatever else you get, get understanding.(A)
Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
if you embrace her, she will honor you.(B)
She will place a garland of grace on your head;
she will give you a crown of beauty.”(C)

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

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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 gracious woman gains honor,
but violent[a] men gain only riches.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:16 Or ruthless

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

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26 People will curse(A) anyone who hoards grain,
but a blessing will come to the one who sells it.(B)

27 The one who searches for what is good(C) finds favor,
but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.(D)

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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 praised for his insight,
but a twisted mind is 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 dishonored, yet have a servant,
than to act important but have no food.(A)

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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 Good sense wins favor,(A)
but the way of the treacherous never changes.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:15 LXX, Syr, Tg read treacherous will perish

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 those
who ignore discipline,
but the one who accepts correction will be honored.(A)

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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 king favors a wise servant,(A)
but his anger falls on a disgraceful one.

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

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