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Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
    but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
The memory of the righteous is blessed,
    but the name of the wicked will rot.
The wise in heart accept commandments,
    but a chattering fool will fall.
He who walks blamelessly walks surely,
    but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
10 One winking with the eye causes sorrow,
    but a chattering fool will fall.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life,
    but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
    but love covers all wrongs.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment,
    but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.

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The Righteous and Wicked Compared

Blessings come[a] upon the head of the righteous,
    but the words[b] of the wicked conceal violence.
The reputation[c] of the righteous leads to blessing,
    but the name of the wicked will rot.
The wise person[d] accepts commands,
    but the chattering fool will be brought down.

Whoever walks in integrity lives prudently,[e]
    but whoever perverts his way of life will be exposed.
10 Those who wink their eyes[f] are trouble makers,
    and the mocking fool will be brought down.[g]

11 What the righteous say[h] is a flowing fountain,[i]
    but what the wicked say[j] conceals violence.
12 Hatred awakens contention,
    but love covers all transgressions.
13 Wisdom characterizes the speech[k] of the discerning,
    but the rod is for the backs of those lacking discernment.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:6 The Heb. lacks come
  2. Proverbs 10:6 Lit. mouth
  3. Proverbs 10:7 Lit. memorial
  4. Proverbs 10:8 Lit. wise in heart
  5. Proverbs 10:9 Lit. lives in safety
  6. Proverbs 10:10 I.e. Those whose looks communicate insincerity
  7. Proverbs 10:10 So MT; LXX reads makers, but the one who reproves publicly makes peace
  8. Proverbs 10:11 Lit. The mouth of the righteous
  9. Proverbs 10:11 Lit. a fountain of life
  10. Proverbs 10:11 Lit. but the mouth of the wicked
  11. Proverbs 10:13 Lit. Wisdom is found on the lips

18 He who hides hatred has lying lips.
    He who utters a slander is a fool.

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18 Whoever conceals hatred is a deceitful liar,
    and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

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13 One who brings gossip betrays a confidence,
    but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.

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13 Whoever spreads gossip betrays secrets,
    but the trustworthy person[a] keeps a confidence.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:13 Lit. trustworthy in spirit

The thoughts of the righteous are just,
    but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
The words of the wicked are about lying in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.

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The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

The words of the wicked lead to[a] bloodshed,
    but the speech of the upright delivers them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:6 Lit. wicked lie in wait for

13 An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips,
    but the righteous shall come out of trouble.

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13 An evil man’s sinful speech ensnares him,
    but the righteous person escapes from trouble.

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15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
    but he who is wise listens to counsel.
16 A fool shows his annoyance the same day,
    but one who overlooks an insult is prudent.
17 He who is truthful testifies honestly,
    but a false witness lies.
18 There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword,
    but the tongue of the wise heals.

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15 The lifestyle of the fool is right in his own opinion,
    but wise is the man who listens to advice.
16 The anger of a fool becomes readily apparent,
    but the prudent person overlooks an insult.

17 The truth teller speaks what is right,
    but the false witness speaks what is[a] deceitful.
18 Some speak rashly like the cutting of a sword,
    but what the wise say promotes healing.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:17 The Heb. lacks speaks what is

20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil,
    but joy comes to the promoters of peace.
21 No mischief shall happen to the righteous,
    but the wicked shall be filled with evil.

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20 Deceit is at home[a] in the heart of those who plan evil,
    but those who promote peace rejoice.

21 No harm overwhelms the righteous,
    but the wicked overflow with trouble.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:20 The Heb. lacks at home

23 A prudent man keeps his knowledge,
    but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.

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23 A prudent man keeps what he knows to himself,[a]
    but the hearts of fools shout forth their foolishness.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:23 The Heb. lacks to himself

There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing.
    There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

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One person pretends to be wealthy, but has nothing;
    another pretends to be poor, yet is rich.

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16 Every prudent man acts from knowledge,
    but a fool exposes folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
    but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.

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16 Every sensible person acts from knowledge,
    but a fool demonstrates folly.
17 An evil messenger stumbles into trouble,
    but a faithful envoy brings healing.

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The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way,
    but the folly of fools is deceit.

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The wisdom of the prudent helps him know how to live,
    but a fool’s stupidity deceives him.

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16 A wise man fears and shuns evil,
    but the fool is hot headed and reckless.

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16 The wise person fears and turns away from evil,
    but a fool is reckless and overconfident.

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