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With their words, the godless destroy their friends,
    but knowledge will rescue the righteous.

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Evil words destroy; godly skill rebuilds.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:9 Evil words destroy; godly skill rebuilds, or “When a godless man slanders his neighbor, the charges won’t stick because everyone knows his reputation.”

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

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The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush,
    but the words of the godly save lives.

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The wicked accuse; the godly defend.

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

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27 Scoundrels create trouble;
    their words are a destructive blaze.

28 A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;
    gossip separates the best of friends.

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27 Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece.[a]

28 An evil man sows strife; gossip separates the best of friends.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:27 Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece, literally, “A worthless man devises mischief; and in his lips there is a scorching fire.”

27 A scoundrel(A) plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.(B)

28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,(C)
    and a gossip separates close friends.(D)

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Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
    those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.

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Mocking the poor is mocking the God who made them. He will punish those who rejoice at others’ misfortunes.

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Whoever mocks the poor(A) shows contempt for their Maker;(B)
    whoever gloats over disaster(C) will not go unpunished.(D)

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Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,
    but dwelling on it separates close friends.

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Love forgets mistakes; nagging about them parts the best of friends.

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Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,(A)
    but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.(B)

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Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels;
    they are asking for a beating.

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6-7 A fool gets into constant fights. His mouth is his undoing! His words endanger him.

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

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Rumors are dainty morsels
    that sink deep into one’s heart.

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What dainty morsels rumors are. They are eaten with great relish!

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The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.(A)

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19 Better to be poor and honest
    than to be dishonest and a fool.

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19 Better to be poor and honest than rich[a] and dishonest.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:1 rich, literally, “a fool.”

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

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19 A gossip goes around telling secrets,
    so don’t hang around with chatterers.

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19 Don’t tell your secrets to a gossip unless you want them broadcast to the world.

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19 A gossip betrays a confidence;(A)
    so avoid anyone who talks too much.

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