20 (A)Listen to advice and accept discipline,
So that you may be wise [a]the rest of your days.
21 Many (B)plans are in a person’s heart,
But the (C)advice of the Lord will stand.
22 What is desirable in a person is his [b]kindness,
And it is better to be a poor person than a liar.
23 [c]The (D)fear of the Lord leads to life,
So that one may sleep (E)satisfied, [d](F)untouched by evil.
24 The [e](G)lazy one buries his hand (H)in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 (I)Strike a scoffer and the naive may become clever,
But (J)rebuke one who has understanding, and he will [f]gain knowledge.
26 He (K)who assaults his father and drives his mother away
Is a shameful and disgraceful son.
27 Stop listening, my son, to discipline,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness makes a mockery of justice,
And the mouth of the wicked [g](L)swallows wrongdoing.
29 [h]Judgments are prepared for (M)scoffers,
And (N)beatings for the backs of fools.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:20 Lit in your latter end
  2. Proverbs 19:22 Or loyalty
  3. Proverbs 19:23 Or Reverence for
  4. Proverbs 19:23 Lit not visited
  5. Proverbs 19:24 Lit idle person
  6. Proverbs 19:25 Lit discern
  7. Proverbs 19:28 Another reading is pours out
  8. Proverbs 19:29 LXX Rods

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