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The Righteous and Wicked Compared

Blessings come[a] upon the head of the righteous,
    but the words[b] of the wicked conceal violence.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:6 The Heb. lacks come
  2. Proverbs 10:6 Lit. mouth

Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
    but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:6 Or righteous, / but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence

The wise person[a] accepts commands,
    but the chattering fool will be brought down.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:8 Lit. wise in heart

The wise in heart accept commands,
    but a chattering fool comes to ruin.(A)

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10 Those who wink their eyes[a] are trouble makers,
    and the mocking fool will be brought down.[b]

11 What the righteous say[c] is a flowing fountain,[d]
    but what the wicked say[e] conceals violence.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:10 I.e. Those whose looks communicate insincerity
  2. Proverbs 10:10 So MT; LXX reads makers, but the one who reproves publicly makes peace
  3. Proverbs 10:11 Lit. The mouth of the righteous
  4. Proverbs 10:11 Lit. a fountain of life
  5. Proverbs 10:11 Lit. but the mouth of the wicked

10 Whoever winks maliciously(A) causes grief,
    and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,(B)
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(C)

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14 Those who are wise store up knowledge,
    but when the fool speaks,[a] destruction is near.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:14 Lit. but the mouth of the fool

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

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By what he says, the godless person can destroy his neighbor,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.

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With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.(A)

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The words of the wicked lead to[a] bloodshed,
    but the speech of the upright delivers them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:6 Lit. wicked lie in wait for

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.(A)

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What a fool says brings[a] a rod to his back,
    but the words of the wise protect them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:3 Lit. The mouth of the fool

A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,(A)
    but the lips of the wise protect them.(B)

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The wise speak, presenting[a] knowledge appropriately,
    but fools spout foolishness.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:2 Lit. The tongues of the wise present

The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.(B)

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What the wise have to say disseminates[a] knowledge,
    but it’s not in the heart of fools to do so.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:7 Lit. The lips of the wise spread

The lips of the wise spread knowledge,(A)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

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What the wise have to say disseminates[a] knowledge,
    but it’s not in the heart of fools to do so.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:7 Lit. The lips of the wise spread

The lips of the wise spread knowledge,(A)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

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23 A wise person’s thoughts[a] control his words,
    and his speech promotes instruction.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:23 Lit. heart

23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,(A)
    and their lips promote instruction.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive

A fool’s words[a] bring strife,
    and his mouth invites fighting.
A fool’s mouth is his unraveling,
    and his lips entrap himself.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:6 Lit. lips

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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The Priorities of Life Contrasted

19 A poor man who walks blamelessly is better
than a fool who speaks perversely.

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19 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than a fool whose lips are perverse.(A)

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