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A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it;
    wherever he turns, he prospers.

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A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
    they think success will come at every turn.(A)

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A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

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23 A wicked man receives a bribe in secret,
    to pervert the ways of justice.

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23 The wicked accept bribes(A) in secret
    to pervert the course of justice.(B)

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23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

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21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning,
    won’t be blessed in the end.

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21 An inheritance claimed too soon
    will not be blessed at the end.

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21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

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To do righteousness and justice
    is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.

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To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(A)

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To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

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Getting treasures by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
The violence of the wicked will drive them away,
    because they refuse to do what is right.
The way of the guilty is devious,
    but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

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A fortune made by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[a](A)

The violence of the wicked will drag them away,(B)
    for they refuse to do what is right.

The way of the guilty is devious,(C)
    but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

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22 Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor;
    and don’t crush the needy in court;
23 for Yahweh will plead their case,
    and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

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Saying 2

22 Do not exploit the poor(A) because they are poor
    and do not crush the needy in court,(B)
23 for the Lord will take up their case(C)
    and will exact life for life.(D)

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22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

23 For the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

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23 These also are sayings of the wise.

To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”
    peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
    and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 An honest answer
    is like a kiss on the lips.

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Further Sayings of the Wise

23 These also are sayings of the wise:(A)

To show partiality(B) in judging is not good:(C)
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”(D)
    will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
    and rich blessing will come on them.

26 An honest answer
    is like a kiss on the lips.

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23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

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A needy man who oppresses the poor
    is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.

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A ruler[a] who oppresses the poor
    is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person

A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

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Better is the poor who walks in his integrity,
    than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.

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Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than the rich whose ways are perverse.(A)

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Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

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