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;

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20 (A)My son, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
21 (B)Let them not escape from your sight;
    (C)keep them within your heart.

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23 Above all else, guard(A) your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.(B)

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23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
    for (A)from it flow (B)the springs of life.

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20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
    but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

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

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20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
    but those who promote peace have joy.(A)

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20 Deceit is in the heart of (A)those who devise evil,
    but those who plan peace have joy.

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13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,(A)
    but heartache crushes the spirit.(B)

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13 (A)A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but by (B)sorrow of heart the spirit is (C)crushed.

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15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
    but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.(A)

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15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
    but (A)the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

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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 (A)The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and (B)good news refreshes[a] the bones.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew makes fat

16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.(A)

All a person’s ways seem pure to them,(B)
    but motives are weighed(C) by the Lord.(D)

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16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but (A)the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
(B)All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the Lord (C)weighs the spirit.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:2 Or spirits

The Lord detests all the proud of heart.(A)
    Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.(B)

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Everyone who is arrogant in heart is (A)an abomination to the Lord;
    (B)be assured, he will not go unpunished.

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21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction.[a](A)

22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(B)
    but folly brings punishment to fools.

23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,(C)
    and their lips promote instruction.[b](D)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
  2. Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive

21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech (A)increases persuasiveness.
22 Good sense is (B)a fountain of life to him who has it,
    but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 (C)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

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The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,(A)
    but the Lord tests the heart.(B)

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

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

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