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20 My son, attend to my words.
    Turn your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from your eyes.
    Keep them in the center of your heart.

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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;

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23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
    for out of it is the wellspring of life.

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23 Above all else, guard(A) your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.(B)

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20 The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver.
    The heart of the wicked is of little worth.

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

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20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil,
    but joy comes to the promoters of peace.

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20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
    but those who promote peace have joy.(A)

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13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but an aching heart breaks the spirit.

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13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,(A)
    but heartache crushes the spirit.(B)

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15 All the days of the afflicted are wretched,
    but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.

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15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
    but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.(A)

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30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart.
    Good news gives health to 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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16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes;
    but Yahweh weighs the motives.

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16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.(A)

All a person’s ways seem pure to them,(B)
    but motives are weighed(C) by the Lord.(D)

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Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh:
    they shall certainly not be unpunished.

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The Lord detests all the proud of heart.(A)
    Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.(B)

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21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent.
    Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,
    but the punishment of fools is their folly.
23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth,
    and adds learning to his lips.

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21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction.[a](A)

22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,(B)
    but folly brings punishment to fools.

23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,(C)
    and their lips promote instruction.[b](D)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
  2. Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive

The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold,
    but Yahweh tests the hearts.

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The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,(A)
    but the Lord tests the heart.(B)

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22 A cheerful heart makes good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up 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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