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.

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For (A)from it flow the springs of life.

Read full chapter

23 More than anything you guard, protect your mind, for life flows from it.

Read full chapter

20 The tongue of the righteous is like (A)choice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.

Read full chapter

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
    but the heart of the wicked lacks value.

Read full chapter

20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.

Read full chapter

20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plan evil,
    but there is joy for those who advise peace.

Read full chapter

13 A (A)joyful heart makes a [a]cheerful face,
But [b]when the heart is (B)sad, the (C)spirit is broken.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:13 Lit good
  2. Proverbs 15:13 Lit in sadness of heart

13 A joyful heart brightens one’s face,
    but a troubled heart breaks the spirit.

Read full chapter

15 All the days of the [a]needy are bad,
But a [b]cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:15 Or wretched
  2. Proverbs 15:15 Lit good

15 All the days of the needy are hard,
    but a happy heart has a continual feast.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

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

Read full chapter

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

16 The (A)plans of the heart belong to a person,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight,
But the (B)Lord examines the [a]motives.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:2 Lit spirits

16 To people belong the plans of the heart,
    but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
All the ways of people
are pure in their eyes,
    but the Lord tests the motives.

Read full chapter

Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
[a]Be assured, he will not go unpunished.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:5 Lit Hand to hand, he

The Lord detests all who are arrogant;
    they surely won’t go unpunished.

Read full chapter

21 The (A)wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of [a]speech (B)increases [b]persuasiveness.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
But the discipline of fools is foolishness.
23 The (C)heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds [c]persuasiveness to his lips.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:21 Lit lips
  2. Proverbs 16:21 Or learning
  3. Proverbs 16:23 Or learning

21 The skilled mind is called discerning,
    and pleasant speech enhances teaching.
22 One who has insight is a fountain of life,
    but the instruction of the foolish is folly.
23 The mind of the wise makes their speech insightful
    and enhances the teaching of their lips.

Read full chapter

The (A)refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But (B)the Lord tests hearts.

Read full chapter

A crucible is for silver and a furnace for gold,
    but the Lord tests the heart.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:22 Lit causes good healing

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

Read full chapter