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Wisdom and Piety

My child, do not forget my instruction,
    and may your heart guard my commands.
For length of days, years of life,
    and peace they[a] shall add to you.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:2 That is, “my commands” (3:1)

Trust the Lord

My son, don’t forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commands;(A)
for they will bring you
many days, a full life,[a](B) and well-being.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 3:2 Lit days, years of life

13 Happy is the one[a] who finds wisdom,
    and one who obtains understanding.
14 For her[b] income is better than the income of silver,
    and her revenue than that of gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
    and all your desires shall not compare with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life for those who seize her;
    those who take hold of her are considered happy.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:13 Literally “a man”
  2. Proverbs 3:14 Or “its”; both “wisdom” and “understanding” are feminine nouns and can be read as either “she” or “it”

Wisdom Brings Happiness

13 Happy is a man who finds wisdom(A)
and who acquires understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver,
and her revenue is better than gold.(B)
15 She is more precious than jewels;(C)
nothing you desire can equal her.(D)
16 Long life[a] is in her right hand;
in her left, riches and honor.(E)
17 Her ways are pleasant,(F)
and all her paths, peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life(G) to those who embrace her,
and those who hold on to her are happy.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:16 Lit Length of days

23 For like a lamp is a commandment, and instruction is light,
    and the way of life[a] is the reproof of discipline,

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:23 Hebrew “lives”

23 For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light,(A)
and corrective discipline is the way to life.(B)

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35 For he who finds me is he who finds[a] life,
    and he obtains favor from Yahweh.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:35 Hebrew “those who find”

35 For the one who finds me finds life(A)
and obtains favor from the Lord,(B)

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17 On the path to life is he who guards instruction,
    but he who rejects rebuke goes astray.

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17 The one who follows instruction is on the path to life,
but the one who rejects correction goes astray.(A)

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19 He who is steadfast in righteousness is to life
    as[a] he who pursues evil is to death.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:19 Hebrew “and”

19 Genuine righteousness leads to life,(A)
but pursuing evil leads to death.(B)

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30 The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life,
    and he who captures souls[a] is wise.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:30 Or “persons,” or “inner selves”

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,(A)
but a cunning person takes lives.(B)

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28 On the road of righteousness is life,
    and on the way of the path, may there be no death.

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28 There is life in the path of righteousness,
and in its path there is no death.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 12:28 Or righteousness, but the crooked way leads to death

Gentleness[a] of tongue is a tree of life,
    but perverseness in it[b] causes a break in spirit.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:4 Or “Healing”
  2. Proverbs 15:4 That is, the tongue

The tongue that heals is a tree of life,(A)
but a devious tongue[a] breaks the spirit.

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Footnotes

  1. 15:4 Lit but crookedness in it

15 In the light of the face of the king there is life,
    and his favor is like a cloud of spring rain.

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15 When a king’s face lights up, there is life;
his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.

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22 A fountain of life is wisdom for its owner,[a]
    but the instruction[b] of fools is folly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:22 Or “master”
  2. Proverbs 16:22 Or “punishment”

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

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21 Death and life are in the power[a] of the tongue,
    and those who love her[b] will eat of her fruit.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:21 Literally “hand”
  2. Proverbs 18:21 That is, the power of the tongue

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.(A)

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