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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Wisdom in Action

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,
    “Go, and come back.
        I will pay you[a] tomorrow,”
when you have cash[b] with you.
29 Do not plan to harm your neighbor,
    when he is living peacefully[c] beside you.
30 Do not bring a lawsuit against a person for no reason,
    when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a violent man,
    and do not emulate his lifestyle.[d]
32 Indeed, a perverse man is utterly disgusting[e] to the Lord,
    but he takes the upright into his confidence.[f]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:28 Lit. it
  2. Proverbs 3:28 The Heb. lacks cash
  3. Proverbs 3:29 Or securely
  4. Proverbs 3:31 Lit. ways
  5. Proverbs 3:32 Lit. an abomination
  6. Proverbs 3:32 Lit. but his secret counsel is with the upright

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

32 For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.

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

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Nothing good comes from ill-gotten wealth,
    but righteousness delivers from death.

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Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

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

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The Value of Righteousness

11 The Lord hates false scales,
but he delights in accurate weights.

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11 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.

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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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Anyone who guards his words protects his life;
    anyone who talks too much[a] is ruined.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:3 Lit. who opens wide his lips

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

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

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11 Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away,
    but whoever works diligently increases his prosperity.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:11 The Heb. lacks his prosperity

11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

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

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Someone whose conduct is upright fears the Lord,
    but whoever is devious in his ways despises him.

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He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

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

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A trustworthy witness does not deceive,
    but a false witness spews lies.

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A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

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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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27 Those who are greedy for unjust gain bring trouble into their homes,
    but the person who hates bribes will live.

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27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

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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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Iniquity is atoned for by gracious love and truth,
    and through fear of the Lord people[a] turn from evil.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:6 The Heb. lacks people

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

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