27 (A)Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,[a]
    when it is in your power to do it.

28 (B)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
    tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 (C)Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
    who (D)dwells trustingly beside you.
30 (E)Do not contend with a man for no reason,
    when he has done you no harm.
31 (F)Do not envy (G)a man of violence
    and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for (H)the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the upright are (I)in his confidence.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:27 Hebrew Do not withhold good from its owners

Treat Others Fairly

27 When it is in your power,[a]
don’t withhold good(A) from the one it belongs to.
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. Proverbs 3:27 Lit in the power of your hands
  2. Proverbs 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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(A)Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
    (B)but righteousness delivers from death.

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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 (A)A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
    (B)but a just weight is his delight.

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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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(A)Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
    (B)he who opens wide his lips (C)comes to ruin.

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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 (A)Wealth gained hastily[a] will dwindle,
    but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:11 Or by fraud

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. Proverbs 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 (A)walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
    but he who is (B)devious in his ways despises him.

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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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(A)A faithful witness does not lie,
    but (B)a false witness breathes out lies.

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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 Whoever is (A)greedy for unjust gain (B)troubles his own household,
    but he who hates (C)bribes will live.

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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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By (A)steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by (B)the fear of the Lord one (C)turns away from evil.

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Wickedness 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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