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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.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:6 The Heb. lacks come
  2. Proverbs 10:6 Lit. mouth

Blessings belong to the head of the righteous,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

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The wise person[a] accepts commands,
    but the chattering fool will be brought down.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:8 Lit. wise in heart

A heart of wisdom will heed commandments,
    but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

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10 Those who wink their eyes[a] are trouble makers,
    and the mocking fool will be brought down.[b]

11 What the righteous say[c] is a flowing fountain,[d]
    but what the wicked say[e] conceals violence.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:10 I.e. Those whose looks communicate insincerity
  2. Proverbs 10:10 So MT; LXX reads makers, but the one who reproves publicly makes peace
  3. Proverbs 10:11 Lit. The mouth of the righteous
  4. Proverbs 10:11 Lit. a fountain of life
  5. Proverbs 10:11 Lit. but the mouth of the wicked

10 The winking of an eye causes[a] trouble,
    and the foolishness of lips comes to ruin.
11 A fountain of life is a mouth of righteousness,
    and a mouth of wickedness conceals violence.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:10 Or “gives, sets up”

14 Those who are wise store up knowledge,
    but when the fool speaks,[a] destruction is near.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:14 Lit. but the mouth of the fool

14 Those who are wise lay up knowledge,
    but to the mouth of the fool, ruin draws near.

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By what he says, the godless person can destroy his neighbor,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.

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With a mouth, the godless shall destroy his neighbor,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

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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

The words of the wicked are an ambush of blood,
    but the mouth of the upright delivers them.

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What a fool says brings[a] a rod to his back,
    but the words of the wise protect them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:3 Lit. The mouth of the fool

In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride,
    but the lips of the wise preserve them.

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The wise speak, presenting[a] knowledge appropriately,
    but fools spout foolishness.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:2 Lit. The tongues of the wise present

The tongue of the wise will dispense knowledge,
    but the mouth of fools will pour out folly.

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What the wise have to say disseminates[a] knowledge,
    but it’s not in the heart of fools to do so.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:7 Lit. The lips of the wise spread

The lips of the wise will spread knowledge,
    but the heart[a] of fools, not so.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:7 Or “mind”

What the wise have to say disseminates[a] knowledge,
    but it’s not in the heart of fools to do so.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:7 Lit. The lips of the wise spread

The lips of the wise will spread knowledge,
    but the heart[a] of fools, not so.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:7 Or “mind”

23 A wise person’s thoughts[a] control his words,
    and his speech promotes instruction.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:23 Lit. heart

23 The heart[a] of the wise will make his mouth judicious,
    and upon his lips, it[b] will add persuasiveness.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:23 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 16:23 Or “he”

A fool’s words[a] bring strife,
    and his mouth invites fighting.
A fool’s mouth is his unraveling,
    and his lips entrap himself.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:6 Lit. lips

The lips of a fool will bring strife,
    and his mouth calls out for a flogging.
The mouth of a fool is ruin to him,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:7 Or “life,” or “inner self”