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Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;
    bind them around your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.(A)
Then you will find favor and high regard
    in the sight of God and of people.(B)

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The True Wealth

13 Happy are those who find wisdom
    and those who get understanding,
14 for her income is better than silver
    and her revenue better than gold.(A)
15 She is more precious than jewels,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.(B)
16 Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.(C)
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.(D)
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called happy.(E)

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35 The wise will inherit honor,
    but stubborn fools, disgrace.

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The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom,
    and whatever else you get, get insight.(A)
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
    she will honor you if you embrace her.(B)
She will place on your head a fair garland;
    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”(C)

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

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16 A gracious woman gets honor,
    but she who hates virtue is covered with shame.[a]
The timid become destitute,[b]
    but the aggressive gain riches.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 11.16 Compare Gk Syr: Heb lacks but she . . . shame
  2. 11.16 Gk: Heb lacks The timid . . . destitute

26 The people curse those who hold back grain,
    but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.(A)
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
    but evil comes to the one who searches for it.(B)

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One is commended for good sense,
    but a perverse mind is despised.

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Better to be despised and have produce[a]
    than to be self-important and lack food.

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Footnotes

  1. 12.9 Cn: Heb servant

15 Good sense wins favor,
    but the way of the faithless is their ruin.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 13.15 Cn Compare Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb is enduring

18 Poverty and disgrace are for the one who ignores instruction,
    but one who heeds reproof is honored.(A)

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35 A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor,
    but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.(A)

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33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and humility goes before honor.(A)

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13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves those who speak what is right.(A)

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28 Even fools who keep silent are considered wise;
    when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.(A)

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12 Before destruction one’s heart is haughty,
    but humility goes before honor.(A)

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11 Even children make themselves known by their acts,
    by whether what they do is pure and right.(A)

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21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
    will find life[a] and honor.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 21.21 Gk: Heb life and righteousness

The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
    is riches and honor and life.

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Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
    or stand in the place of the great,
for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
    than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

What your eyes have seen(A)

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13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
    are faithful messengers to those who send them;
    they refresh the spirit of their masters.(A)

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27 It is not good to eat much honey
    or to seek honor on top of honor.(A)

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18 Anyone who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
    and anyone who takes care of a master will be honored.(A)

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23 Whoever rebukes a person will afterward find more favor
    than one who flatters with the tongue.(A)

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