Don’t be wise in your own eyes;(A)
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.(B)
This will be healing for your body[a](C)
and strengthening for your bones.(D)

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  1. 3:8 Lit navel

(A)Do not be wise in your own eyes;
(B)Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It will be (C)healing to your [a]body
And (D)refreshment to your bones.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:8 Lit navel

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 (A)Blessed is a person who finds wisdom,
And one who obtains understanding.
14 For [a]her (B)profit is better than the profit of silver,
And her produce better than gold.
15 She is (C)more precious than [b]jewels,
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 [c](D)Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are (E)riches and honor.
17 Her (F)ways are pleasant ways,
And all her paths are (G)peace.
18 She is a (H)tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are those who hold on to her.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:14 I.e., the profit from Wisdom (personified)
  2. Proverbs 3:15 Lit corals
  3. Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days

Two Ways of Life

10 Listen, my son. Accept my words,(A)
and you will live many years.(B)

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10 Listen, my son, and (A)accept my sayings,
And the (B)years of your life will be many.

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The Straight Path

20 My son, pay attention to my words;
listen closely to my sayings.(A)
21 Don’t lose sight of them;(B)
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and health to one’s whole body.

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20 My son, (A)pay attention to my words;
(B)Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 (C)They are not to escape from your sight;
(D)Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are (E)life to those who find them,
And (F)healing to all [a]their body.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:22 Lit his

11 For by me your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.

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11 For (A)by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.

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27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life,[a](A)
but the years of the wicked are cut short.(B)

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  1. 10:27 Lit Lord adds to days

27 The (A)fear of the Lord prolongs [a]life,
But the (B)years of the wicked will be shortened.

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  1. Proverbs 10:27 Lit days

30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,(A)
but jealousy is rottenness to the bones.(B)

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30 A (A)tranquil heart is life to the body,
But jealousy is (B)rottenness to the bones.

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30 Bright eyes cheer the heart;
good news strengthens[a] the bones.(A)

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  1. 15:30 Lit makes fat

30 [a]Bright eyes gladden the heart;
Good news [b]refreshes the bones.

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  1. Proverbs 15:30 Lit The light of the eyes gladdens
  2. Proverbs 15:30 Lit makes fat

17 The highway of the upright(A) avoids evil;
the one who guards his way protects his life.(B)

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17 The (A)highway of the upright is to turn away from evil;
One who watches his way protects his [a]life.

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  1. Proverbs 16:17 Lit soul

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb:(A)
sweet to the taste[a] and health to the body.[b](B)

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  1. 16:24 Lit throat
  2. 16:24 Lit bones

24 (A)Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and (B)healing to the bones.

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22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit dries up the bones.(A)

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22 A (A)joyful heart [a]is good medicine,
But a broken spirit (B)dries up the bones.

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  1. Proverbs 17:22 Lit causes good healing

17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners;(A)
instead, always fear the Lord.(B)
18 For then you will have a future,
and your hope will not be dashed.(C)

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17 (A)Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But live in [a]the (B)fear of the Lord [b]always.
18 Certainly there is a [c](C)future,
And your (D)hope will not be cut off.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:17 Or reverence for
  2. Proverbs 23:17 Lit all the day
  3. Proverbs 23:18 Lit latter end