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He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous;
    He is a shield to those who walk uprightly.

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

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The Folly of Idleness

Go to the ant, you sluggard!
    Consider her ways and be wise.
Which, having no guide,
    overseer, or ruler,
provides her bread in the summer,
    and gathers her food in the harvest.

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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, dwell with prudence,
    and find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
    pride and arrogance
    and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
    I am understanding, I have strength.
15 By me kings reign,
    and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule,
    and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

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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 upright will direct his way,
    but the wicked will fall by his own 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 is only good,
    but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

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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 hand of the diligent will rule,
    but the slothful will be put to forced labor.

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

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A man will eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
    but the soul of the transgressor will eat violence.

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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 Whoever despises the word will be destroyed,
    but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

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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 Without counsel, purposes are disappointed,
    but in the multitude of counselors they are established.

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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 works to the Lord,
    and your thoughts will be established.

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

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A man’s heart devises his way,
    but the Lord directs his steps.

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

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12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness,
    for the throne is established by righteousness.

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

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