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11 An evil person will seek only rebellion,
    and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

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11 A rebellious person seeks evil;
    a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him.

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11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
    the messenger of death will be sent against them.

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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 The person who loves transgression loves strife;
    the person who builds a high gate invites destruction.

20 The person whose mind[a] is perverse does not find good,
    and anyone with perverted speech falls into trouble.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:20 Lit. heart

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 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 person with understanding has wisdom as his objective,
    but a fool looks only[a] to earthly goals.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:24 The Heb. lacks only

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 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”

How Fools Talk

18 Whoever isolates himself pursues selfish ends;
he resists all sound advice.

A fool finds no satisfaction in trying to understand,
    for he would rather express his own opinion.

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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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14 “Bad, bad,” the buyer will say,
    but when one goes to him, then he will boast.

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14 “This is bad, bad,” says whoever is buying—
    but then he brags as he walks away after the sale.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:14 The Heb. lacks after the sale

14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
    then goes off and boasts about the purchase.

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29 A wicked man is strong in his countenance,[a]
    but the upright will appoint his paths.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:29 Literally “his face”

29 The wicked man puts up a bold appearance,
    but the upright thinks about what he is doing.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:29 Lit. about his ways

29 The wicked put up a bold front,
    but the upright give thought to their ways.(A)

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10 Drive out a scoffer and strife will go out;
    quarrel and abuse will cease.

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10 Throw out the mocker and strife departs, too;[a]
    furthermore, quarrels[b] and discord will end.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:10 The Heb. lacks too
  2. Proverbs 22:10 Or litigation

10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
    quarrels and insults are ended.(A)

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He who sows injustice will reap calamity,
    and the rod of his anger will fail.

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Whoever sows wickedness reaps trouble,
    and the anger he uses for a weapon[a] will be destroyed.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:8 Lit. rod

Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,(A)
    and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.(B)

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26 Do not be with those who give a pledge[a]
    by becoming[b] surety.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:26 Literally “strike a hand”
  2. Proverbs 22:26 Literally “in the becomings of”

26 Don’t be one of those who make promises
    to guarantee loans for debts.

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Saying 4

26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge(A)
    or puts up security for debts;

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