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20 
My son, pay attention to my words and be willing to learn;
Open your ears to my sayings.
21 
Do not let them escape from your sight;
Keep them in the center of your heart.

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20 My son, (A)pay attention to my words;
(B)Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 (C)They are not to escape from your sight;
(D)Keep them in the midst of your heart.

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23 
Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.

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23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For (A)from it flow the springs of life.

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20 
The tongue of the righteous is like precious silver (greatly valued);
The heart of the wicked is worth little.

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20 The tongue of the righteous is like (A)choice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.

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20 
Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.

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20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.

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13 
A heart full of joy and goodness makes a cheerful face,
But when a heart is full of sadness the spirit is crushed.(A)

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13 A (A)joyful heart makes a [a]cheerful face,
But [b]when the heart is (B)sad, the (C)spirit is broken.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:13 Lit good
  2. Proverbs 15:13 Lit in sadness of heart

15 
All the days of the afflicted are bad,
But a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of the circumstances].

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15 All the days of the [a]needy are bad,
But a [b]cheerful heart has a continual feast.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:15 Or wretched
  2. Proverbs 15:15 Lit good

30 
The light of the eyes rejoices the hearts of others,
And good news puts fat on the bones.

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30 [a]Bright eyes gladden the heart;
Good news [b]refreshes the bones.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:30 Lit The light of the eyes gladdens
  2. Proverbs 15:30 Lit makes fat

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

16 The plans and reflections of the heart belong to man,
But the [wise] answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

All the ways of a man are clean and innocent in his own eyes [and he may see nothing wrong with his actions],
But the Lord weighs and examines the motives and intents [of the heart and knows the truth].(A)

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Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

16 The (A)plans of the heart belong to a person,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight,
But the (B)Lord examines the [a]motives.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:2 Lit spirits


Everyone who is proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting and exceedingly offensive to the Lord;
Be assured he will not go unpunished.(A)

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Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
[a]Be assured, he will not go unpunished.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:5 Lit Hand to hand, he

21 
The wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweet speech increases persuasiveness and learning [in both speaker and listener].
22 
Understanding (spiritual insight) is a [refreshing and boundless] wellspring of life to those who have it,
But to give instruction and correction to fools is foolishness.
23 
The heart of the wise instructs his mouth [in wisdom]
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

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21 The (A)wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of [a]speech (B)increases [b]persuasiveness.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
But the discipline of fools is foolishness.
23 The (C)heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds [c]persuasiveness to his lips.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:21 Lit lips
  2. Proverbs 16:21 Or learning
  3. Proverbs 16:23 Or learning


The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But the Lord tests hearts.(A)

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The (A)refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But (B)the Lord tests hearts.

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22 
A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing,
But a broken spirit dries up the bones.(A)

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22 A (A)joyful heart [a]is good medicine,
But a broken spirit (B)dries up the bones.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:22 Lit causes good healing