Do not be wise in your own eyes;(A)
    fear the Lord(B) and shun evil.(C)
This will bring health to your body(D)
    and nourishment to your bones.(E)

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Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear Yahweh and retreat from evil.
There shall be healing for your flesh,[a]
    and refreshment for your body.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:8 Literally “navel”

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.(A)
15 She is more precious than rubies;(B)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.(C)
16 Long life is in her right hand;(D)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(E)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.(F)
18 She is a tree of life(G) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.(H)

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13 Happy is the one[a] who finds wisdom,
    and one who obtains understanding.
14 For her[b] income is better than the income of silver,
    and her revenue than that of gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
    and all your desires shall not compare with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life for those who seize her;
    those who take hold of her are considered happy.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:13 Literally “a man”
  2. Proverbs 3:14 Or “its”; both “wisdom” and “understanding” are feminine nouns and can be read as either “she” or “it”

10 Listen, my son,(A) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.(B)

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The Right Path

10 Listen, my child, take my sayings,
    and the years of your life shall be great.

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20 My son,(A) pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.(B)
21 Do not let them out of your sight,(C)
    keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.(D)

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Staying the Course

20 My child, be attentive to my words;
    to my sayings incline your ear.
21 May they not escape from your sight;[a]
    keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them
    and healing to the entire body.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:21 Literally “eyes”
  2. Proverbs 4:22 Literally “for all his flesh”

11 For through wisdom[a] your days will be many,
    and years will be added to your life.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:11 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew me

11 For by me your days shall increase,
    and years of life shall multiply for you.

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27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life,(A)
    but the years of the wicked are cut short.(B)

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27 The fear of Yahweh adds life,
    but the years of the wicked are shortened.

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30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.(A)

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30 A heart[a] of tranquility[b] is life to the flesh,
    but causes bones of passion to rot.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:30 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 14:30 Or “he who heals”

30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.(A)

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30 From the light of the eyes, the heart[a] will rejoice,
    and good news will enliven the bones.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:30 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew “bone”

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their ways preserve their lives.(A)

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17 The highway of the upright, it turns from evil,
    he who guards himself[a] keeps his way.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:17 Or “soul,” or “inner self”

24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,(A)
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.(B)

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24 Pleasant sayings are a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and healing to the bones.

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22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed(A) spirit dries up the bones.(B)

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22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a downcast spirit will dry out bones.

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Saying 15

17 Do not let your heart envy(A) sinners,
    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.(B)

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17 May your heart[a] not envy the sinners,
    but live in fear of Yahweh all day.[b]
18 Surely[c] there is a future,
    and your hope will not be cut off.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:17 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 23:17 Literally “all the day”
  3. Proverbs 23:18 Literally “For if”