Do not let (A)kindness and truth leave you;
(B)Bind them around your neck,
(C)Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will (D)find favor and a (E)good [a]reputation
In the sight of God and man.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:4 Lit understanding

Do not let gracious love and truth leave you.
    Bind them around your neck,
        write them on the tablet of your heart,
and find favor and a good reputation[a] with God and men.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:4 Lit. good judgment or sense

13 (A)Blessed is a person who finds wisdom,
And one who obtains understanding.
14 For [a]her (B)profit is better than the profit of silver,
And her produce better than gold.
15 She is (C)more precious than [b]jewels,
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 [c](D)Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are (E)riches and honor.
17 Her (F)ways are pleasant ways,
And all her paths are (G)peace.
18 She is a (H)tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are those who hold on to her.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:14 I.e., the profit from Wisdom (personified)
  2. Proverbs 3:15 Lit corals
  3. Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days

Wisdom More Valuable than Riches

13 How joyful is the man who finds wisdom,
    and the man who gains understanding,
14 because her profit is better than the profit of silver,
    and her yield than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
    and nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand,
    and in her left are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life for those who embrace her,
    and whoever clutches her tightly will be joyful.

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35 (A)The wise will inherit honor,
But fools [a]increase dishonor.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:35 Lit raise high

35 The wise will inherit honor,
    but he holds fools up for ridicule.

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(A)The [a]beginning of wisdom is: (B)Acquire wisdom;
And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.
(C)Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place (D)on your head a garland of grace;
She will present you with a crown of beauty.”

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:7 Or primary thing is wisdom

Wisdom is of utmost importance, therefore get wisdom,
    and with all your effort work to acquire understanding.
Prize her and she will exalt you.
    Indeed, if you embrace her, she will honor you.
She will place on your head a graceful garland;
    she will present to you a crown of beauty.”

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

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The reputation[a] of the righteous leads to blessing,
    but the name of the wicked will rot.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:7 Lit. memorial

16 A (A)gracious woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain riches.

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16 A gracious woman attains honor,[a]
    but[b] ruthless men attain[c] wealth.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:16 So MT; LXX reads honor for her husband
  2. Proverbs 11:16 So MT; LXX reads but a seat of dishonor is for the woman who hates justice
  3. Proverbs 11:16 So MT; LXX reads justice. The deficient shrink from wealth, but the diligent support themselves with

26 One who withholds grain, the (A)people will curse him,
But (B)blessing will be on the head of him who (C)sells it.
27 One who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
But (D)one who seeks evil, evil will come to him.

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26 People will curse whoever withholds grain,
    but blessing will come to whoever is selling.

27 The person seeking good will find favor,
    but anyone who searches for evil—it will find him!

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A person will be praised according to his insight,
But one of perverse [a]mind will be despised.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:8 Lit heart

A man is praised because of his wise words,
    but the perverted mind[a] will be despised.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:8 Lit. heart

Better is one who is lightly esteemed and has a servant,
Than one who honors himself and lacks bread.

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It’s better to be unimportant, yet have a servant,
    than to pretend to be important, but lack food.

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15 (A)Good understanding produces favor,
But the way of the treacherous is [a]their own disaster.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:15 Cf. LXX in destruction; MT constant

15 Good understanding produces grace,
    but the lifestyle of the treacherous never changes.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:15 So MT; LXX Syr read grace, and to know the Law is the sign of a sound mind, but the path of scorners ends in destruction

18 Poverty and shame will come to one who (A)neglects [a]discipline,
But one who complies with rebuke will be honored.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:18 Or instruction

18 Poverty and shame are for those who ignore correction,
    but whoever listens to instruction gains honor.

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35 The king’s favor is toward a (A)servant who acts wisely,
But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.

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35 The king approves the wise servant,
    but he is angry at anyone who acts shamefully.

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