21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
    but fools die for lack of sense.(A)

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21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

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    my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.(A)

“Because you have rejected knowledge,
    I also reject you as my priests;
because you have ignored the law(B) of your God,
    I also will ignore your children.

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My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

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16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
    when they are not able to understand it?(A)

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16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

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19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom(A) and does not understand it, the evil one(B) comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

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19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

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The Conclusion of the Matter

Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.(A) 10 The Teacher(B) searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.(C)

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And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

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29 since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.(A)

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29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:

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Think how you have instructed many,(A)
    how you have strengthened feeble hands.(B)
Your words have supported those who stumbled;(C)
    you have strengthened faltering knees.(D)

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Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

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The soothing tongue(A) is a tree of life,(B)
    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.(C)

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A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

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23 For lack of discipline they will die,(A)
    led astray by their own great folly.(B)

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23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

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12 You will say, “How I hated discipline!
    How my heart spurned correction!(A)

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12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

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31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
    and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.(A)

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31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

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21 “People listened to me expectantly,
    waiting in silence for my counsel.(A)
22 After I had spoken, they spoke no more;(B)
    my words fell gently on their ears.(C)

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21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.

22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

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12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;(A)
    I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.(B)

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12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

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