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20 My child, pay attention to what I say.
    Listen carefully to my words.
21 Don’t lose sight of them.
    Let them penetrate deep into your heart,

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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.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:21 Literally “eyes”

23 Guard your heart above all else,
    for it determines the course of your life.

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23 With all vigilance, keep your heart,
    for from it comes the source[a] of life.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:23 Or “extremity”

20 The words of the godly are like sterling silver;
    the heart of a fool is worthless.

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20 Choice silver is a tongue of righteousness,
    a heart[a] of wickedness is of little worth.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:20 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 10:20 Literally “like a little”

20 Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil;
    joy fills hearts that are planning peace!

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20 Deceit is in the heart[a] of those who plan[b] evil,
    but to those who plan[c] peace, there is joy.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:20 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 12:20 Literally “the planners of”
  3. Proverbs 12:20 Literally “the planners of”

13 A glad heart makes a happy face;
    a broken heart crushes the spirit.

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13 A heart[a] of gladness will make good countenance,[b]
    but in sorrow of heart[c] a spirit is broken.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:13 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 15:13 Literally “faces”
  3. Proverbs 15:13 Or “mind”

15 For the despondent, every day brings trouble;
    for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.

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15 All the days of the poor are hard,
    but goodness of heart[a] is a continuous feast.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:15 Or “mind”

30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart;
    good news makes for good health.

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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”

16 We can make our own plans,
    but the Lord gives the right answer.

People may be pure in their own eyes,
    but the Lord examines their motives.

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16 To mortals belong the plans of the heart,
    but from Yahweh comes the answer of the tongue.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but Yahweh weighs the spirit.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:2 Or “breath”

The Lord detests the proud;
    they will surely be punished.

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An abomination of Yahweh are all who are arrogant of heart;[a]
    rest assured,[b] he will not go unpunished.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:5 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 16:5 Literally “hand to hand”

21 The wise are known for their understanding,
    and pleasant words are persuasive.

22 Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it,
    but discipline is wasted on fools.

23 From a wise mind comes wise speech;
    the words of the wise are persuasive.

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21 The wise of heart[a] is called perceptive,
    but he who is pleasant of lips will increase persuasiveness.
22 A fountain of life is wisdom for its owner,[b]
    but the instruction[c] of fools is folly.
23 The heart[d] of the wise will make his mouth judicious,
    and upon his lips, it[e] will add persuasiveness.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:21 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 16:22 Or “master”
  3. Proverbs 16:22 Or “punishment”
  4. Proverbs 16:23 Or “mind”
  5. Proverbs 16:23 Or “he”

Fire tests the purity of silver and gold,
    but the Lord tests the heart.

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A crucible is for the silver, and a furnace is for the gold,
    but Yahweh will test hearts.

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22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

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

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