33 The Lord’s curse is on the household of the wicked,(A)
but he blesses the home of the righteous;
34 He mocks those who mock
but gives grace to the humble.(B)

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33 The Lord’s curse(A) is on the house of the wicked,(B)
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.(C)
34 He mocks(D) proud mockers(E)
    but shows favor to the humble(F) and oppressed.

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23 Guard your heart above all else,[a]
for it is the source of life.(A)
24 Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly,(B)
and don’t let your lips talk deviously.
25 Let your eyes look forward;
fix your gaze[b] straight ahead.(C)
26 Carefully consider the path[c] for your feet,(D)
and all your ways will be established.
27 Don’t turn to the right or to the left;(E)
keep your feet away from evil.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:23 Or heart with all diligence
  2. 4:25 Lit eyelids
  3. 4:26 Or Clear a path

23 Above all else, guard(A) your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.(B)
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes(C) look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[a] paths for your feet(D)
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;(E)
    keep your foot from evil.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:26 Or Make level

35 For the one who finds me finds life(A)
and obtains favor from the Lord,(B)

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35 For those who find me(A) find life(B)
    and receive favor from the Lord.(C)

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Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(A)

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Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
    but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:6 Or righteous, / but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence

17 A kind man benefits himself,(A)
but a cruel person brings ruin on himself.(B)

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17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
    but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

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31 If the righteous will be repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and sinful.(A)

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31 If the righteous receive their due(A) on earth,
    how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

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One who is good obtains favor from the Lord,(A)
but he condemns a person who schemes.(B)

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Good people obtain favor from the Lord,(A)
    but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.(B)

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12 The wicked desire what evil people have caught,[a]
but the root of the righteous is productive.

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Footnotes

  1. 12:12 Or desire a stronghold of evil

12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous endures.

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21 Disaster pursues sinners,
but good rewards the righteous.(A)

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21 Trouble pursues the sinner,(A)
    but the righteous(B) are rewarded with good things.(C)

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14 The disloyal one will get what his conduct deserves,
and a good one, what his deeds deserve.(A)

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14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,(A)
    and the good rewarded for theirs.(B)

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22 A man who finds a wife finds a good thing(A)
and obtains favor from the Lord.(B)

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22 He who finds a wife finds what is good(A)
    and receives favor from the Lord.(B)

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A generous person[a] will be blessed,(A)
for he shares his food with the poor.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 22:9 Lit Good of eye

The generous will themselves be blessed,(A)
    for they share their food with the poor.(B)

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21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,(A)
22 for you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.(B)

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21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
    if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals(A) on his head,
    and the Lord will reward you.(B)

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