20 The tongue of the righteous is pure silver;
the heart of the wicked is of little value.(A)

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of sense.(B)

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20 Choice silver is a tongue of righteousness,
    a heart[a] of wickedness is of little worth.[b]
21 Lips of righteousness feed many,
    but fools die for lack of sense.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:20 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 10:20 Literally “like a little”
  3. Proverbs 10:21 Literally “in the lack of heart, they die”

31 The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom,(A)
but a perverse tongue will be cut out.(B)

32 The lips of the righteous know what is appropriate,(C)
but the mouth of the wicked, only what is perverse.(D)

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31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
    but a tongue of perversity will be cut off.
32 The lips of the righteous know the acceptable,
    but the mouth of the wicked, the perverse.

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11 A city is built up by the blessing of the upright,(A)
but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked.(B)

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11 By the blessing of the upright, a city will be exalted,
    but by the mouth of the wicked, it will be overthrown.

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13 An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech,(A)
but a righteous one escapes from trouble.(B)

14 A man will be satisfied with good
by the words of his mouth,(C)
and the work of a man’s hands will reward him.(D)

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13 By the transgression of lips, evil is ensnared,
    but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14 From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he is filled with good,
    and the reward of a man’s labor[a] will return to him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:14 Literally “the hands of a man”

From the words of his mouth,
a man will enjoy good things,(A)
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.(B)

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From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he shall eat what is good,
    but the desire[a] of the treacherous, wrongdoing.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:2 Or “soul”

28 The mind of the righteous person thinks before answering,(A)
but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil things.(B)

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28 A heart[a] of righteousness will ponder the answer,
    but a mouth of wickedness will pour out deceit.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:28 Or “mind”

A wicked person listens to malicious talk;[a]
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:4 Lit to lips of iniquity

He who does evil listens to lips of wickedness,
    and the liar gives heed to the tongue of mischief.

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