10 Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to the people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist!

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10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, “The people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist.

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11 Surely the princes of (A)Zoan are fools;
Pharaoh’s wise counselors give foolish counsel.
(B)How do you say to Pharaoh, “I am the son of the wise,
The son of ancient kings?”
12 (C)Where are they?
Where are your wise men?
Let them tell you now,
And let them know what the Lord of hosts has (D)purposed against Egypt.
13 The princes of Zoan have become fools;
(E)The princes of [a]Noph are deceived;
They have also [b]deluded Egypt,
Those who are the [c]mainstay of its tribes.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 19:13 Ancient Memphis
  2. Isaiah 19:13 Lit. caused to stagger
  3. Isaiah 19:13 cornerstone

11 The officials of Zoan(A) are nothing but fools;
    the wise counselors(B) of Pharaoh give senseless advice.(C)
How can you say to Pharaoh,
    “I am one of the wise men,(D)
    a disciple of the ancient kings”?

12 Where are your wise men(E) now?
    Let them show you and make known
what the Lord Almighty
    has planned(F) against Egypt.
13 The officials of Zoan(G) have become fools,
    the leaders of Memphis(H) are deceived;
the cornerstones(I) of her peoples
    have led Egypt astray.

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23 (A)A man’s pride will bring him low,
But the humble in spirit will retain honor.

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23 Pride brings a person low,(A)
    but the lowly in spirit gain honor.(B)

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25 (A)He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
(B)But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.

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25 The greedy stir up conflict,(A)
    but those who trust in the Lord(B) will prosper.

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30 (A)There is no wisdom or understanding
Or counsel against the Lord.

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30 There is no wisdom,(A) no insight, no plan
    that can succeed against the Lord.(B)

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A fool’s lips enter into contention,
And his mouth calls for blows.
(A)A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his (B)soul.

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The lips of fools bring them strife,
    and their mouths invite a beating.(A)

The mouths of fools are their undoing,
    and their lips are a snare(B) to their very lives.(C)

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16 (A)A wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self-confident.

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16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,(A)
    but a fool(B) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

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16 (A)Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool lays open his folly.

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16 All who are prudent act with[a] knowledge,
    but fools expose(A) their folly.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:16 Or prudent protect themselves through

14 Wise people store up knowledge,
But (A)the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

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14 The wise store up knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.(B)

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10 Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist! 11 And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with [a]scourges!’ ”

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 12:11 Scourges with points or barbs, lit. scorpions

10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, “These people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

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So Hushai said to Absalom: “The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time. For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are enraged in their minds, like (A)a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not camp with the people. Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some other place. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ 10 And even he who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will (B)melt completely. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. 11 Therefore I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, (C)from Dan to Beersheba, (D)like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person. 12 So we will come upon him in some place where he may be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And of him and all the men who are with him there shall not be left so much as one. 13 Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city; and we will (E)pull it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.”

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Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time. You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs.(A) Besides, your father is an experienced fighter;(B) he will not spend the night with the troops. Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place.(C) If he should attack your troops first,[a] whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ 10 Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion,(D) will melt(E) with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave.(F)

11 “So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba(G)—as numerous as the sand(H) on the seashore—be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle. 12 Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. 13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley(I) until not so much as a pebble is left.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 17:9 Or When some of the men fall at the first attack