Don’t consider yourself to be wise;(A)
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.(B)
This will be healing for your body[a](C)
and strengthening for your bones.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:8 Lit navel

Don’t consider yourself wise.
    Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Then your body[a] will be healthy
    and your bones strengthened.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:8 Heb navel

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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Two Ways of Life

10 Listen, my son. Accept my words,(A)
and you will live many years.(B)

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Stay on the path of wisdom

10 Listen, my son, and take in my speech,
    then the years of your life will be many.

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The Straight Path

20 My son, pay attention to my words;
listen closely to my sayings.(A)
21 Don’t lose sight of them;(B)
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and health to one’s whole body.

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Be careful about what you say

20 My son, pay attention to my words.
    Bend your ear to my speech.
21 Don’t let them slip from your sight.
    Guard them in your mind.
22 They are life to those who find them,
    and healing for their entire body.

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11 For by Wisdom your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.

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11 Through me your days will be many;
    years will be added to your life.

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27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life,[a](A)
but the years of the wicked are cut short.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:27 Lit Lord adds to days

27 The fear of the Lord increases one’s life,
    but the years of the wicked will be cut short.

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30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,(A)
but jealousy is rottenness to the bones.(B)

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30 A peaceful mind gives life to the body,
    but jealousy rots the bones.

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30 Bright eyes cheer the heart;
good news strengthens[a] the bones.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:30 Lit makes fat

30 Bright eyes give joy to the heart;
    good news strengthens the bones.

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17 The highway of the upright(A) avoids evil;
the one who guards his way protects his life.(B)

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17 The road of those who do right turns away from evil;
    those who protect their path guard their lives.

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24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb:(A)
sweet to the taste[a] and health to the body.[b](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:24 Lit throat
  2. Proverbs 16:24 Lit bones

24 Pleasant words are flowing honey,
    sweet to the taste and healing to the bones.

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22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit dries up the bones.(A)

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22 A joyful heart helps healing,
    but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

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17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners;(A)
instead, always fear the Lord.(B)
18 For then you will have a future,
and your hope will never fade.(C)

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17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners,
    but fear the Lord constantly;
18         then you will have a future,
        and your hope won’t be cut off.

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