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

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11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,(A)
    but accurate weights find favor with him.(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 Dishonest money dwindles away,(A)
    but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

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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 false witness pours out lies.(A)

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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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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 much gain(A) with injustice.(B)

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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 will share the inheritance as one of the family.

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

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

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

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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

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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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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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

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

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Whoever increases wealth by taking interest(A) or profit from the poor
    amasses it for another,(B) who will be kind to the poor.(C)

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Speak(A) up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.(B)

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