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27 Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again;
    tomorrow I will give it to you,”
    when you have it by you.
29 Don’t devise evil against your neighbor,
    since he dwells securely by you.
30 Don’t strive with a man without cause,
    if he has done you no harm.
31 Don’t envy the man of violence.
    Choose none of his ways.
32 For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh,
    but his friendship is with the upright.

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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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Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,
    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 false balance is an abomination to Yahweh,
    but accurate weights are 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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He who guards his mouth guards his soul.
    One who opens wide his lips 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 Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away,
    but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

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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. 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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He who walks in his uprightness fears Yahweh,
    but he who is perverse 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 truthful witness will not lie,
    but a false witness pours 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 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
    but he who hates 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 mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for.
    By the fear of Yahweh men depart 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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