20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
    but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

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

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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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31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,(A)
    but a perverse tongue(B) will be silenced.

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

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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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11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,(A)
    but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.(B)

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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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13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,(A)
    and so the innocent escape trouble.(B)

14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,(C)
    and the work of their hands brings them reward.(D)

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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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From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,(A)
    but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

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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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28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,(A)
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.(B)

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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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A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
    a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

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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