Treat Others Fairly

27 When it is in your power,[a]
don’t withhold good(A) from the one to whom it belongs.
28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go away! Come back later.
I’ll give it tomorrow”—when it is there with you.(B)
29 Don’t plan any harm against your neighbor,(C)
for he trusts you and lives near you.
30 Don’t accuse anyone without cause,(D)
when he has done you no harm.
31 Don’t envy a violent man(E)
or choose any of his ways;
32 for the devious are detestable to the Lord,
but he is a friend[b] to the upright.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. 3:27 Lit in the power of your hands
  2. 3:32 Or confidential counsel

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
    “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
    when you already have it with you.(A)
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
    who lives trustfully near you.(B)
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
    when they have done you no harm.

31 Do not envy(C) the violent
    or choose any of their ways.

32 For the Lord detests the perverse(D)
    but takes the upright into his confidence.(E)

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Ill-gotten gains do not profit anyone,
but righteousness rescues from death.(A)

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Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,(A)
    but righteousness delivers from death.(B)

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11 Dishonest scales are detestable to the Lord,(A)
but an accurate weight is his delight.(B)

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11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,(A)
    but accurate weights find favor with him.(B)

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The one who guards his mouth protects his life;(A)
the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.(B)

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Those who guard their lips(A) preserve their lives,(B)
    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.(C)

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11 Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle,(A)
but whoever earns it through labor[a] will multiply it.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 13:11 Lit whoever gathers upon his hand

11 Dishonest money dwindles away,(A)
    but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

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Whoever lives with integrity fears the Lord,(A)
but the one who is devious in his ways despises him.(B)

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Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
    but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

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An honest witness does not deceive,
but a dishonest witness utters lies.(A)

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An honest witness does not deceive,
    but a false witness pours out lies.(A)

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27 The one who profits dishonestly(A) troubles his household,
but the one who hates bribes will live.(B)

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27 The greedy bring ruin to their households,
    but the one who hates bribes will live.(A)

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Iniquity is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,(A)
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.(B)

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Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
    through the fear of the Lord(A) evil is avoided.(B)

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Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice.(A)

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Better a little with righteousness
    than much gain(A) with injustice.(B)

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11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are his concern.(A)

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11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
    all the weights in the bag are of his making.(A)

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A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and share an inheritance among brothers.

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A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
    and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

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A bribe(A) seems like a magic stone to its owner;
wherever he turns, he succeeds.(B)

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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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