Do not be wise in your own eyes;(A)
    fear the Lord(B) and shun evil.(C)
This will bring health to your body(D)
    and nourishment to your bones.(E)

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Don’t consider yourself wise.
    Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Then your body[a] will be healthy
    and your bones strengthened.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:8 Heb navel

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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Value of wisdom

13 Happy are those who find wisdom
    and those who gain understanding.
14 Her profit is better than silver,
    and her gain better than gold.
15 Her value exceeds pearls;
    all you desire can’t compare with her.
16 In her right hand is a long life;
    in her left are wealth and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant;
    all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
    those who hold her tight are happy.

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

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Stay on the path of wisdom

10 Listen, my son, and take in my speech,
    then the years of your life will be many.

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20 My son,(A) pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.(B)
21 Do not let them out of your sight,(C)
    keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.(D)

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Be careful about what you say

20 My son, pay attention to my words.
    Bend your ear to my speech.
21 Don’t let them slip from your sight.
    Guard them in your mind.
22 They are life to those who find them,
    and healing for their entire body.

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11 For through wisdom[a] your days will be many,
    and years will be added to your life.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:11 Septuagint, Syriac and Targum; Hebrew me

11 Through me your days will be many;
    years will be added to your life.

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27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life,(A)
    but the years of the wicked are cut short.(B)

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27 The fear of the Lord increases one’s life,
    but the years of the wicked will be cut short.

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30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.(A)

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30 A peaceful mind gives life to the body,
    but jealousy rots the bones.

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30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.(A)

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30 Bright eyes give joy to the heart;
    good news strengthens the bones.

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17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their ways preserve their lives.(A)

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17 The road of those who do right turns away from evil;
    those who protect their path guard their lives.

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

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24 Pleasant words are flowing honey,
    sweet to the taste and healing to the bones.

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22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed(A) spirit dries up the bones.(B)

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22 A joyful heart helps healing,
    but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

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Saying 15

17 Do not let your heart envy(A) sinners,
    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.(B)

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17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners,
    but fear the Lord constantly;
18         then you will have a future,
        and your hope won’t be cut off.

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