12 Before his downfall a person’s heart is proud,(A)
but humility comes before honor.(B)

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12 Haughtiness goes before destruction;
    humility precedes honor.

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14 A person’s spirit can endure sickness,
but who can survive a broken spirit?(A)

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14 The human spirit can endure a sick body,
    but who can bear a crushed spirit?

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A person’s own foolishness leads him astray,
yet his heart rages against the Lord.(A)

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People ruin their lives by their own foolishness
    and then are angry at the Lord.

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20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction
so that you may be wise later in life.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 19:20 Lit in your end

20 Get all the advice and instruction you can,
    so you will be wise the rest of your life.

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Counsel in a person’s heart is deep water;(A)
but a person of understanding draws it out.

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Though good advice lies deep within the heart,
    a person with understanding will draw it out.

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27 The Lord’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life,[a]
searching the innermost parts.[b](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 20:27 Lit breath
  2. 20:27 Lit the chambers of the belly

27 The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit,[a]
    exposing every hidden motive.

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Footnotes

  1. 20:27 Or The human spirit is the Lord’s light.

21 A king’s heart is like channeled water in the Lord’s hand:
He directs it wherever he chooses.(A)

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

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21 The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;
    he guides it wherever he pleases.

People may be right in their own eyes,
    but the Lord examines their heart.

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11 The one who loves a pure heart
and gracious lips—the king is his friend.(A)

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11 Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech
    will have the king as a friend.

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12 Apply yourself to discipline
and listen to words of knowledge.

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12 Commit yourself to instruction;
    listen carefully to words of knowledge.

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11 Rescue those being taken off to death,
and save those stumbling toward slaughter.(A)
12 If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,”
won’t he who weighs hearts(B) consider it?
Won’t he who protects your life(C) know?
Won’t he repay a person according to his work?(D)

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11 Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die;
    save them as they stagger to their death.
12 Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.”
    For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.
He who guards your soul knows you knew.
    He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

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17 Don’t gloat when your enemy falls,
and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,(A)
18 or the Lord will see, be displeased,
and turn his wrath away from him.

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17 Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall;
    don’t be happy when they stumble.
18 For the Lord will be displeased with you
    and will turn his anger away from them.

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19 Don’t be agitated by evildoers,
and don’t envy the wicked.(A)
20 For the evil have no future;(B)
the lamp of the wicked will be put out.(C)

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19 Don’t fret because of evildoers;
    don’t envy the wicked.
20 For evil people have no future;
    the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.

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