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Proverbs 3
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1My son, don’t forget my teaching;
- but let your heart keep my commandments:
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2for length of days, and years of life,
- and peace, will they add to you.
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3Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you.
- Bind them around your neck.
- Write them on the tablet of your heart.
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4So you will find favor,
- and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
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5Trust in Yahweh with all your heart,
- and don’t lean on your own understanding.
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6In all your ways acknowledge him,
- and he will make your paths straight.
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7Don’t be wise in your own eyes.
- Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.
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8It will be health to your body,
- and nourishment to your bones.
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9Honor Yahweh with your substance,
- with the first fruits of all your increase:
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10so your barns will be filled with plenty,
- and your vats will overflow with new wine.
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11My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline,
- neither be weary of his reproof:
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12for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves;
- even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
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13Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
- the man who gets understanding.
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14For her good profit is better than getting silver,
- and her return is better than fine gold.
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15She is more precious than rubies.
- None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
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16Length of days is in her right hand.
- In her left hand are riches and honor.
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17Her ways are ways of pleasantness.
- All her paths are peace.
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18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her.
- Happy is everyone who retains her.
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19By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth.
- By understanding, he established the heavens.
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20By his knowledge, the depths were broken up,
- and the skies drop down the dew.
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21My son, let them not depart from your eyes.
- Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
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22so they will be life to your soul,
- and grace for your neck.
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23Then you shall walk in your way securely.
- Your foot won’t stumble.
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24When you lie down, you will not be afraid.
- Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
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25Don’t be afraid of sudden fear,
- neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:
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26for Yahweh will be your confidence,
- and will keep your foot from being taken.
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27Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due,
- when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
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28Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again;
- tomorrow I will give it to you,”
- when you have it by you.
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29Don’t devise evil against your neighbor,
- since he dwells securely by you.
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30Don’t strive with a man without cause,
- if he has done you no harm.
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31Don’t envy the man of violence.
- Choose none of his ways.
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32For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh,
- but his friendship is with the upright.
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33Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked,
- but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
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34Surely he mocks the mockers,
- but he gives grace to the humble.
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35The wise will inherit glory,
- but shame will be the promotion of fools.
