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20 My son, attend to my words.
    Turn your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from your eyes.
    Keep them in the center of your heart.

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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.

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23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
    for out of it is the wellspring of life.

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23 Guard your heart above all else,[a]
for it is the source of life.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 4:23 Or heart with all diligence

20 The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver.
    The heart of the wicked is of little worth.

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

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20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil,
    but joy comes to the promoters of peace.

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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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13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but an aching heart breaks the spirit.

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13 A joyful heart makes a face cheerful,
but a sad heart produces a broken spirit.(A)

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15 All the days of the afflicted are wretched,
    but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.

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15 All the days of the oppressed are miserable,
but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

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30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart.
    Good news gives health to 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. 15:30 Lit makes fat

16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes;
    but Yahweh weighs the motives.

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16 The reflections of the heart belong to mankind,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.(A)

All a person’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord weighs motives.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. 16:2 Lit spirits

Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh:
    they shall certainly not be unpunished.

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Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;(A)
be assured,[a] he will not go unpunished.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 16:5 Lit hand to hand

21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent.
    Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,
    but the punishment of fools is their folly.
23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth,
    and adds learning to his lips.

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21 Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech[a] increases learning.(A)

22 Insight is a fountain of life(B) for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.

23 The heart of a wise person instructs his mouth;
it adds learning to his speech.[b](C)

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Footnotes

  1. 16:21 Lit and sweetness of lips
  2. 16:23 Lit learning upon his lips

The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold,
    but Yahweh tests the hearts.

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A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold,(A)
and the Lord is the tester of hearts.(B)

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22 A cheerful heart makes good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up 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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