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

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12 Before a man’s downfall, his mind[a] is arrogant,
    but humility precedes honor.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:12 Lit. heart

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

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14 A man’s spirit can sustain him during his illness,
    but who can bear a crushed spirit?

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

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A man’s foolishness ruins his life,[a]
    yet his heart rages against the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:3 Lit. way

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:20 Lit in your end

20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,
    and you’ll be wise for the rest of your life.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:20 The Heb. lacks of your life

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

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The intentions of a person’s heart are deep waters,
    but a discerning person reveals them.

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

27 A person’s spirit is the lamp of the Lord;
    it searches throughout one’s innermost being.

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:2 Lit Lord weighs the hearts

Thoughts on the Sovereignty of God

21 A king’s heart is a water stream that the Lord controls;
he directs it wherever he pleases.

Every man’s lifestyle is proper in his own view,
    but the Lord weighs the 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 purity[a] and gracious speech
    will gain the king as his friend.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:11 Lit. purity of heart

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

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12 Learn diligently,
    and listen 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 being led away to death,
    and save those who stumble toward slaughter.
12 If you say, “Look here, we didn’t know about this,”
    doesn’t God,[a] who examines motives,[b] discern it?
Doesn’t the one who guards your soul
    know about it?
Won’t he repay each person
    according to what he has done?

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:12 Lit. he
  2. Proverbs 24:12 Lit. examines the heart

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 enemy falls;
    don’t let yourself be glad when he stumbles.
18 Otherwise the Lord will observe and disapprove,
    and he will turn his anger away from him.

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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 be anxious about those who practice evil,
    and don’t be envious of the wicked.
20 For the wicked man has no future;
    the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

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