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21 
My son, let them not escape from your sight,
But keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 
And they will be life to your soul (your inner self)
And a gracious adornment to your neck (your outer self).
23 
Then you will walk on your way [of life] securely
And your foot will not stumble.(A)
24 
When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 
Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the storm of the wicked when it comes [since you will be blameless];
26 
For the Lord will be your confidence, firm and strong,
And will keep your foot from being caught [in a trap].

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21 My son, see that (A)they do not escape from your sight;
Comply with sound wisdom and discretion,
22 And they will be (B)life to your soul
And (C)adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will (D)walk in your way securely,
And your foot will not (E)stumble.
24 When you (F)lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 (G)Do not be afraid of sudden danger,
Nor of (H)trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be [a]your confidence,
And will (I)keep your foot from being caught.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:26 Or at your side


The righteousness of the upright will rescue them,
But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.

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The righteousness of the upright will rescue them,
But the treacherous will (A)be caught by their own greed.

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[a]The righteous is rescued from trouble,
And the wicked takes his place.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:8 The famous eleventh-century rabbi known as Rashi told a fable illustrating this verse. He said that a fox once told a wolf to come with him and he would give him abundant food. It was night, and the fox led the wolf to a well with a bucket at each end of the rope. The fox got into the bucket at the top of the well and rode down to the bottom. When the wolf asked him what he was doing, the fox pointed to the reflection of the moon in the water and said, “There is plenty of cheese and meat down here. Get in the other bucket and come down right away!” The wolf did, and as he went down the fox was pulled up in the first bucket. When the fox got to the top, the wolf said, “How am I supposed to get out?” Thereupon the fox quoted this verse to him.

The righteous is rescued from trouble,
But the wicked [a]takes his place.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:8 Lit enters

15 
He who puts up security and guarantees a debt for an outsider will surely suffer [for his foolishness],
But he who hates (declines) being a guarantor is secure [from its penalties].

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15 One who is a (A)guarantor for a stranger will certainly suffer for it,
But one who hates [a]being a guarantor is secure.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:15 Lit those who strike hands


The [malevolent] words of the wicked lie in wait for [innocent] blood [to slander],
But the mouth of the upright will rescue and protect them.

The wicked are overthrown [by their evil] and are no more,
But the house of the [consistently] righteous will stand [securely].

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The (A)words of the wicked wait in ambush for blood,
But the (B)mouth of the upright will rescue them.
The (C)wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the (D)house of the righteous will stand.

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13 
An evil man is [dangerously] ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
But the righteous will escape from trouble.

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13 [a]An evil person is ensnared by the offense of his lips,
But the (A)righteous will escape from trouble.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:13 Lit In the offense of the lips is an evil snare

21 
No harm befalls the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.(A)

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21 (A)No harm happens to the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.

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The one who guards his mouth [thinking before he speaks] protects his life;
The one who opens his lips wide [and chatters without thinking] comes to ruin.

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One who (A)guards his mouth protects his life;
One who (B)opens wide his lips [a]comes to ruin.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:3 Lit ruin is his

14 
The teaching of the wise is a fountain and source of life,
So that one may avoid the snares of death.

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14 The [a]teaching of the wise is a (A)fountain of life,
To turn aside from the (B)snares of death.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:14 Or law

24 
The [chosen] path of life leads upward for the wise,
That he may keep away from Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) below.(A)

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24 The (A)path of life leads upward for the wise,
So that he may keep away from [a]Sheol below.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:24 I.e., the netherworld

27 
He who profits unlawfully brings suffering to his own house,
But he who hates bribes [and does not receive nor pay them] will live.(A)

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27 He who (A)profits illicitly troubles his own house,
But he who (B)hates bribes will live.

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16 
He who keeps and obeys the commandment [of the Lord] keeps (guards) his own life,
But he who is careless of his ways and conduct will die.(A)

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16 One who (A)keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But one who [a]is careless of [b]conduct will die.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:16 Lit despises
  2. Proverbs 19:16 Lit ways