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27 Do not withhold what is good from those who deserve it;
    if it is within your power to give it, do it.
28 Do not send your neighbor away, saying, “Get back with me tomorrow.
    I can give it to you then,”
    when what he needs is already in your hand.
29 Make no plans that could result in injury to your neighbor;
    after all, he should be more secure because he lives near you.
30 Avoid fighting with anyone without good reason,
    especially when no one has hurt you;
    you have nothing to fight about.
31 Do not envy someone who profits at the expense of others
    or copy any of his tyrannical ways,
32 For crooked people are detestable to the Eternal,
    but those with integrity receive His counsel.

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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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Solomon’s proverbs were originally short, pithy, easily remembered sayings brought together around certain themes. They started as oral traditions and were eventually written in a Hebrew poetic form known as parallelism. Chapters 10–15 are dominated by antithetical parallelism, meaning a statement is made in line 1 and then contrasted in line 2. Chapters 16–22 contain both synonymous and synthetic parallelism. In synonymous parallelism, the ideas in line 1 are repeated in line 2 using different words. In synthetic parallelism, later lines serve to expand, define, and elaborate the first lines.

Riches gained through dishonest means will eventually vanish,
    but doing what is right avoids a deadly consequence.

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

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11 Dishonesty in business disgusts the Eternal,
    but fair dealing delights Him.

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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 speech insure they will take another breath,
    but those who talk without thinking guarantee their demise.

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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 Money earned hastily is easily lost,
    but hard-earned money continues to grow.

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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 travels through life with integrity respects the Eternal,
    but whoever turns from it hates Him.

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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 can always be trusted,
    but a false witness breathes out nothing but lies.

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

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27 Those who take illegal gains injure their families,
    but those who refuse a bribe will live in peace.

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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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The penalty of sin is removed by love and loyalty;
    and by devotion to the Eternal, evil is avoided.

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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 to have little and stand for what is right
    than to become rich by doing what is wrong.

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

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11 The Eternal requires that business be conducted honestly;
    He wants fairness in all your dealings.

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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 wise servant will be put in charge of a child who behaves badly
    and will take a share of the inheritance like one of the family.

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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 like an enchanting charm to one who counts on it—
    everywhere he looks he sees the illusion of success.

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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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