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Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;
    bind 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 of people.(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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The True Wealth

13 Happy are those who find wisdom
    and those who get understanding,
14 for her income is better than silver
    and her revenue better than gold.(A)
15 She is more precious than jewels,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.(B)
16 Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(C)
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.(D)
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called happy.(E)

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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 stubborn fools, disgrace.

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35 The wise gain respect,
    but fools receive shame.

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The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom,
    and whatever else you get, get insight.(A)
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
    she will honor you if you embrace her.(B)
She will place on your head a fair garland;
    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”(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 memory 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 gets honor,
    but she who hates virtue is covered with shame.[a]
The timid become destitute,[b]
    but the aggressive gain riches.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 11.16 Compare Gk Syr: Heb lacks but she . . . shame
  2. 11.16 Gk: Heb lacks The timid . . . destitute

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

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26 The people curse those who hold back grain,
    but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.(A)
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
    but evil comes to the one who searches for it.(B)

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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

One is commended for good sense,
    but a perverse 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 despised and have produce[a]
    than to be self-important and lack food.

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Footnotes

  1. 12.9 Cn: Heb servant

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,
    but the way of the faithless is their ruin.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 13.15 Cn Compare Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb is enduring

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 are for the one who ignores instruction,
    but one who heeds reproof is 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 servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor,
    but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.(A)

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

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