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

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.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

23 Guard your heart above all else,[a]
for it is the source of life.(A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:23 Or heart with all diligence

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 pure silver;
the heart of the wicked is of little value.(A)

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 hearts of those who plot evil,
but those who promote peace have joy.(A)

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 makes a face cheerful,
but a sad heart produces a broken spirit.(A)

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 oppressed are miserable,
but a cheerful 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 cheer the heart;
good news strengthens[a] the bones.(A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:30 Lit makes fat

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 The reflections of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.(A)

All a man’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord evaluates the motives.[a](B)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:2 Lit weighs spirits

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

Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;(A)
be assured,[a] he will not go unpunished.(B)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:5 Lit hand to hand

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 Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech[a] increases learning.(A)

22 Insight is a fountain of life(B) for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.

23 A wise heart instructs its mouth
and increases learning with its speech.[b](C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:21 Lit and sweetness of lips
  2. Proverbs 16:23 Lit learning upon his lips

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

Read full chapter

A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold,(A)
and the Lord is the tester of hearts.(B)

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

Read full chapter