18 She is a tree of life(A) to those who embrace her,
and those who hold on to her are happy.

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18 She is a tree of life for those who embrace her,
    and whoever clutches her tightly will be joyful.

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32 “And now, my sons, listen to me;
those who keep my ways are happy.(A)
33 Listen to instruction and be wise;(B)
don’t ignore it.
34 Anyone who listens to me is happy,(C)
watching at my doors every day,
waiting by the posts of my doorway.
35 For the one who finds me finds life(D)
and obtains favor from the Lord,(E)
36 but the one who misses me[a] harms himself;(F)
all who hate me love death.”(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:36 Or who sins against me

The Exhortation of Wisdom

32 “So listen to me, children!
    Blessed are those who obey me.
33 Listen to instruction and be wise.
    Don’t ignore it.
34 Blessed is the person who listens to me,
    watching daily at my gates,
        waiting at my doorways—
35 because those who find me find life
    and gain favor from the Lord.
36 But whoever sins against me destroys himself;
    everyone who hates me loves death.”

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28 The hope of the righteous is joy,(A)
but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.(B)

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28 What the righteous hope for brings joy,
    but the expectation of the wicked dies.

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25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
but a good word cheers it up.(A)

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25 A person’s anxiety weighs down his heart,
    but an appropriate word is encouraging.

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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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13 A happy heart enlightens the face,
    but a sad heart reflects a broken spirit.

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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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15 The entire life[a] of the afflicted seems disastrous,
    but a good heart feasts continuously.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:15 Lit. All the days

30 Bright eyes cheer the heart;
good news strengthens[a] the bones.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:30 Lit makes fat

30 Bright eyes[a] encourage the heart;
    good news nourishes the body.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:30 Or A cheerful look
  2. Proverbs 15:30 Lit. bones

20 The one who understands a matter finds success,(A)
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.(B)

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20 Whoever listens to a word of instruction prospers,
    and anyone who trusts in the Lord is blessed.

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22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit dries up the bones.(A)

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22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a broken spirit drains one’s strength.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:22 Lit. spirit dries the bones

25 Let your father and mother have joy,(A)
and let her who gave birth to you rejoice.

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25 Let your father and mother rejoice;
    make the one who gave birth to you happy.

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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 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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20 A faithful man will have many blessings,(A)
but one in a hurry to get rich(B)
will not go unpunished.

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20 The faithful man will prosper with blessings,
    but whoever is in a hurry to get rich
        will not escape punishment.

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18 Without revelation[a](A) people run wild,(B)
but one who listens to instruction will be happy.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:18 Lit vision

18 Without prophetic vision, people abandon restraint,
    but those who obey the Law are happy.

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