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11 prudence will watch over you,
    and understanding will guard you.
12 It will save you from the way of evil,
    from those who speak perversely,
13 who forsake the paths of uprightness
    to walk in the ways of darkness,(A)
14 who rejoice in doing evil
    and delight in the perverseness of evil,(B)
15 those whose paths are crooked
    and who are devious in their ways.(C)

16 You will be saved from the loose woman,[a]
    from the adulteress[b] with her smooth words,(D)
17 who forsakes the partner of her youth
    and forgets her sacred covenant,
18 for her way[c] leads down to death
    and her paths to the shades;(E)
19 those who go to her never come back,
    nor do they regain the paths of life.

20 Therefore walk in the way of the good,
    and keep to the paths of the just.
21 For the upright will abide in the land,
    and the innocent will remain in it,(F)
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the earth,
    and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. 2.16 Heb strange woman
  2. 2.16 Heb alien woman
  3. 2.18 Cn: Heb house

31 Do not envy the violent,
    and do not choose any of their ways,(A)
32 for the perverse are an abomination to the Lord,
    but the upright are in his confidence.(B)

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12 A scoundrel and a villain
    goes around with crooked speech,(A)
13 winking the eyes, shuffling the feet,
    pointing the fingers,(B)
14 with perverted mind devising evil,
    continually sowing discord;(C)
15 on such a one calamity will descend suddenly,
    in a moment, damage beyond repair.(D)

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Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(A)

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11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(A)
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
    but love covers all offenses.(B)
13 On the lips of one who has understanding wisdom is found,
    but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.(C)

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18 Lying lips conceal hatred,
    and whoever utters slander is a fool.

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13 A gossip goes about telling secrets,
    but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.(A)

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15 Fools think their own way is right,
    but the wise listen to advice.(A)
16 Fools show their anger at once,
    but the prudent ignore an insult.(B)
17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
    but a false witness speaks deceitfully.(C)
18 Rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(D)

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16 The clever do all things intelligently,
    but the fool displays folly.(A)

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27 Scoundrels concoct evil,
    and their speech is like a scorching fire.(A)
28 A perverse person spreads strife,
    and a whisperer separates close friends.(B)
29 The violent entice their neighbors
    and lead them in a way that is not good.(C)
30 One who winks the eyes plans[a] perverse things;
    one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.

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Footnotes

  1. 16.30 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb to plan

An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
    and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.

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One who forgives an affront fosters friendship,
    but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.(A)

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