27 A worthless man digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.(A)

28 A contrary man spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.(B)

29 A violent man lures his neighbor,(C)
leading him in a way that is not good.(D)

30 The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;
the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.(E)

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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.

29 Violent people mislead their companions,
    leading them down a harmful path.

30 With narrowed eyes, people plot evil;
    with a smirk, they plan their mischief.

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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)

29 A violent person entices their neighbor
    and leads them down a path that is not good.(E)

30 Whoever winks(F) with their eye is plotting perversity;
    whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

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A wicked person listens to malicious talk;[a]
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:4 Lit to lips of iniquity

Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip;
    liars pay close attention to slander.

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A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
    a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

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Whoever conceals an offense promotes love,(A)
but whoever gossips about it separates friends.(B)

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Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,
    but dwelling on it separates close 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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19 One who loves to offend loves strife;(A)
one who builds a high threshold invites injury.

20 One with a twisted mind will not succeed,
and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.(B)

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19 Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin;
    anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.

20 The crooked heart will not prosper;
    the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.

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19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
    whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
    one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

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24 Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive,
but a fool’s eyes(A) roam to the ends of the earth.

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24 Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom,
    but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

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24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
    but a fool’s eyes(A) wander to the ends of the earth.

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18 One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;
he rebels against all sound judgment.

A fool does not delight in understanding,
but only wants to show off his opinions.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:2 Lit to uncover his heart

18 Unfriendly people care only about themselves;
    they lash out at common sense.

Fools have no interest in understanding;
    they only want to air their own opinions.

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18 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
    and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.

Fools find no pleasure in understanding
    but delight in airing their own opinions.(A)

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23 The poor man pleads,(A)
but the rich one answers roughly.(B)

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23 The poor plead for mercy;
    the rich answer with insults.

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23 The poor plead for mercy,
    but the rich answer harshly.

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Wealth attracts many friends,(A)
but a poor man is separated from his friend.

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Wealth makes many “friends”;
    poverty drives them all away.

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Wealth attracts many friends,
    but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.(A)

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Many seek a ruler’s favor,(A)
and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.(B)

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Many seek favors from a ruler;
    everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts!

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Many curry favor with a ruler,(A)
    and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.(B)

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