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

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Benefits of Following Wisdom

32 “And now, children, listen to me;
    happy are those who will keep my ways.
33 Hear teaching and be wise;
    do not neglect it.
34 Happy is the person who listens to me,
    in order to keep watch at my doors day by day,
    in order to guard the frames of my entrances.
35 For he who finds me is he who finds[a] life,
    and he obtains favor from Yahweh.
36 But he who misses me injures himself.[b]
    All those who hate me love death.”

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:35 Hebrew “those who find”
  2. Proverbs 8:36 Or “soul,” or “inner self”

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 gladness,
    but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.

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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 the heart[a] of a man will weigh him down,
    but a good word will cheer him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:25 Or “mind”

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

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13 A heart[a] of gladness will make good countenance,[b]
    but in sorrow of heart[c] a spirit is broken.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:13 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 15:13 Literally “faces”
  3. Proverbs 15:13 Or “mind”

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 poor are hard,
    but goodness of heart[a] is a continuous feast.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:15 Or “mind”

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 From the light of the eyes, the heart[a] will rejoice,
    and good news will enliven the bones.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:30 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew “bone”

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 He who is attentive to a matter will find goodness,
    and he who trusts in Yahweh, his own happiness.

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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 cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a downcast spirit will dry out bones.

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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 May your father and your mother be glad,
    and may she who bore 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 While your enemies are falling, do not rejoice;
    when he trips himself, may your heart[a] not be glad
18 lest Yahweh see and it be evil in his eyes,
    and turn his anger away from him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:17 Or “mind”

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 man of faithfulness has abundant blessings,
    but he who hurries to become rich 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 When there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint,
    but as for he who guards instruction, happiness is his.

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

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