21 Maintain sound wisdom and discretion.
My son, don’t lose sight of them.(A)
22 They will be life for you[a](B)
and adornment[b] for your neck.
23 Then you will go safely on your way;
your foot will not stumble.(C)
24 When you lie[c] down, you will not be afraid;(D)
you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.
25 Don’t fear sudden danger
or the ruin of the wicked when it comes,(E)
26 for the Lord will be your confidence[d]
and will keep your foot from a snare.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. 3:22 Or be your throat
  2. 3:22 Or grace
  3. 3:24 LXX reads sit
  4. 3:26 Or be at your side

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 rescues them,
but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires.(A)

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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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The righteous one is rescued from trouble;
in his place, the wicked one goes in.(A)

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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 If someone puts up security for a stranger,
he will suffer for it,(A)
but the one who hates such agreements is protected.

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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 words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,(A)
but the speech of the upright rescues them.(B)

The wicked are overthrown and perish,(C)
but the house of the righteous will stand.(D)

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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 By rebellious speech an evil person is trapped,(A)
but a righteous person escapes from trouble.(B)

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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 disaster overcomes the righteous,(A)
but the wicked are full of misery.

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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 protects his life;(A)
the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.(B)

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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 A wise person’s instruction is a fountain of life,(A)
turning people away from the snares of death.(B)

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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 For the prudent the path of life leads upward,
so that he may avoid going down to Sheol.

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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 The one who profits dishonestly(A) troubles his household,
but the one who hates bribes will live.(B)

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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 The one who keeps commands preserves himself;(A)
one who disregards[a] his ways will die.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 19:16 Or despises, or treats lightly

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