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·Some people think they can pay others to do anything they ask [L A bribe is a magic stone in the eyes of those who give it].
·They think it will work every time [L It grants success to all who use it].

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23 When the wicked ·accept money to do wrong [take a secret bribe/L bribe from the chest/bosom]
·there can be no [it stretches] justice.

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21 Wealth inherited quickly in the beginning
will ·do you no good [not bless you] in the end.

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Doing what is ·right [righteous] and ·fair [just]
is more ·important [preferable] to the Lord than sacrifices [1 Sam. 15:22; Is. 1:11–17; Hos. 6:6; Mic. 6:6–8].

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·Wealth [L Those who work for treasures] that comes from ·telling lies [L a lying tongue]
·vanishes like a mist [pursues vapor/meaninglessness/emptiness] and ·leads to [seeks] death.

The violence of the wicked will ·destroy them [sweep them away],
because they refuse to ·do what is right [act with justice].

Guilty people live dishonest lives,
but ·honest people do right [virtuous people are pure].

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22 Do not ·abuse [L steal from] poor people because they are poor,
    and do not ·take away the rights of [oppress] the needy in ·court [L the gate].
23 The Lord will ·defend them in court [accuse their accusers]
    and will ·take the life of those who take away their rights [L press/squeeze the life out of those who press/squeeze them; Ex. 22:21–23; 23:6; Deut. 24:14–15].

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More Words of Wisdom

23 These are also ·sayings of [L according to] the wise [22:17]:
It is not good to ·take sides when you are the judge [show partiality/favoritism in judgment].
24 ·Don’t tell [L Those who say to] the wicked ·that they [L “You…”] are ·innocent [righteous];
    people will curse you, and nations will ·hate [despise] you.
25 But things will go well if you ·punish [correct; rebuke] the guilty,
    and you will receive rich blessings.

26 An honest answer is as pleasing
as a kiss on the lips.

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·Rulers [or Poor people] who ·mistreat [oppress] the poor
are like a hard rain that ·destroys the crops [washes away the food].

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It is better to be poor and ·innocent [walk blamelessly]
than to be rich and ·wicked [L be on crooked paths].

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Some people get rich by ·overcharging others [L interest and surcharge; Ex. 22:25; Deut. 23:20],
but their wealth will be given to those who are ·kind [gracious] to the poor.

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“·Speak up [L Open your mouth] for those who cannot speak for themselves;
    defend the rights of ·all those who have nothing [vulnerable/fragile people].
·Speak up [L Open your mouth] and judge ·fairly [with righteousness],
    and defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

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