Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Tie them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.(A)
Then you will find favor and high regard
with God and people.(B)

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Let love and faithfulness(A) never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.(B)
Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.(C)

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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

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.(A)
15 She is more precious than rubies;(B)
    nothing you desire can compare with her.(C)
16 Long life is in her right hand;(D)
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(E)
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.(F)
18 She is a tree of life(G) to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.(H)

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35 The wise will inherit honor,
but he holds up fools to dishonor.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 3:35 Or but haughty fools dishonor, or but fools exalt dishonor

35 The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame.

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Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom.
And whatever else you get, get understanding.(A)
Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
if you embrace her, she will honor you.(B)
She will place a garland of favor on your head;
she will give you a crown of beauty.”(C)

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The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
    Though it cost all(A) you have,[b] get understanding.(B)
Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.(C)
She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
  2. Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get

The remembrance of the righteous is a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.(A)

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The name of the righteous(A) is used in blessings,[a]
    but the name of the wicked(B) will rot.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:7 See Gen. 48:20.

16 A gracious woman gains honor,
but violent[a] people gain only riches.

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Footnotes

  1. 11:16 Or ruthless

16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(A)
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

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26 People will curse(A) anyone who hoards grain,
but a blessing will come to the one who sells it.(B)

27 The one who searches for what is good(C) seeks favor,
but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.(D)

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26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
    but evil comes to one who searches for it.(A)

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A man is praised for his insight,
but a twisted mind is despised.

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A person is praised according to their prudence,
    and one with a warped(A) mind is despised.

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Better to be disregarded, yet have a servant,
than to act important but have no food.(A)

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Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
    than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

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15 Good sense wins favor,(A)
but the way of the treacherous never changes.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 13:15 LXX, Syr, Tg read treacherous will perish

15 Good judgment wins favor,
    but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:15 Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.

18 Poverty and disgrace come to those
who ignore discipline,
but the one who accepts correction will be honored.(A)

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18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,(A)
    but whoever heeds correction is honored.(B)

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35 A king favors a prudent servant,(A)
but his anger falls on a disgraceful one.

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35 A king delights in a wise servant,
    but a shameful servant arouses his fury.(A)

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