He stores up success[a] for the upright;
He is a shield for those who live with integrity(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:7 Or resourcefulness

He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield(A) to those whose walk is blameless,(B)

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Laziness

Go to the ant,(A) you slacker!(B)
Observe its ways and become wise.
Without leader, administrator, or ruler,
it prepares its provisions in summer;
it gathers its food during harvest.(C)

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Go to the ant, you sluggard;(A)
    consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer(B)
    and gathers its food at harvest.(C)

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12 I, wisdom, share a home with shrewdness
and have knowledge and discretion.(A)
13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil.(B)
I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct,
and perverse speech.
14 I possess good advice and sound wisdom;[a]
I have understanding and strength.(C)
15 It is by me that kings reign(D)
and rulers enact just law;
16 by me, princes lead,
as do nobles and all righteous judges.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 8:14 Or resourcefulness
  2. 8:16 Some Hb mss, LXX read nobles who judge the earth

12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.(A)
13 To fear the Lord(B) is to hate evil;(C)
    I hate(D) pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.(E)
15 By me kings reign
    and rulers(F) issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,(G)
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers

The righteousness of the blameless clears his path,
but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.

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The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,(A)
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.(B)

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23 The desire of the righteous turns out well,(A)
but the hope of the wicked leads to wrath.(B)

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23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

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24 The diligent hand will rule,
but laziness will lead to forced labor.(A)

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24 Diligent hands will rule,
    but laziness ends in forced labor.(A)

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From the fruit of his mouth,
a person will enjoy good things,(A)
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.(B)

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From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,(A)
    but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

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13 The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty,(A)
but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.(B)

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13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,(A)
    but whoever respects(B) a command is rewarded.(C)

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22 Plans fail when there is no counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.(A)

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22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,(A)
    but with many advisers(B) they succeed.(C)

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Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.(A)

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Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.(A)

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A person’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.(A)

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In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.(A)

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12 Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,(A)
since a throne is established through righteousness.(B)

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12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for a throne is established through righteousness.(A)

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20 The one who understands a matter finds success,(A)
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.(B)

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20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[a](A)
    and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good