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27 A man of wickedness concocts evil,
    and his lips are like a scorching fire.
28 A person of perversity will spread dissent,
    and he who whispers separates a close friend.
29 A person of violence will entice his neighbor
    and cause him to walk on a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes does so in order to plan perverse things;
    he who purses his lips will bring evil to pass.

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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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27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.

30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

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He who does evil listens to lips of wickedness,
    and the liar gives heed to the tongue of mischief.

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

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A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

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He who forgives an affront fosters love,
    but he who waits on a matter will alienate a friend.

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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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He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

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19 He who loves transgression loves strife;
    he who builds his high thresholds seeks destruction.
20 He who is crooked of heart[a] will not find goodness,
    and he who is perverse, by his tongue he will fall into calamity.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:20 Or “mind”

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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19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

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24 He who understands sets his face toward wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool, to the end of the earth.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:24 Or “land”

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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24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

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18 He who is selfish seeks a craving;[a]
    against all sound judgment he shows contempt.
A fool will not take pleasure in understanding,
    but in expressing his heart.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:1 Or “boundary”
  2. Proverbs 18:2 Or “mind”

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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18 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

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23 The poor may speak entreaties,
    but the rich will answer roughly.

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

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23 The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.

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Wealth adds many friends,
    but the poor will be left by his friends.

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

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Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

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Many will seek favor before the generous,
    and everyone is the friend of a man of gifts.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:6 Hebrew “gift”

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

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Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

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