24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the [a]lazy hand will be (A)put to forced labor.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:24 Lit idle

24 The diligent will take control,
    but the lazy will be put to forced labor.

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10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding
Than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 A rebellious person seeks only evil,
So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

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10 A rebuke is more effective with a man of understanding
    than a hundred lashes to a fool.
11 A rebellious person seeks evil;
    a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him.

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Many a person (A)proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a (B)trustworthy person?

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Many claim “I’m a loyal person!”[a]
    but who can find someone who truly is?

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:6 Lit. claim to be people of gracious love

(A)A king who sits on the throne of justice
[a]Disperses all evil with his eyes.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:8 Or Sifts

A king sits on a throne of justice,
    sifting out all sorts of evil with his glance.

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30 (A)Bruising wounds clean away evil,
And blows cleanse the [a]innermost parts.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:30 Lit chambers of the body

30 Blows that wound clean away evil;
    such beatings cleanse[a] the innermost being.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:30 The Heb. lacks cleanse

11 One who loves (A)purity of heart
And [a]whose speech is (B)gracious, the king is his friend.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:11 Lit has grace on his lips

11 Whoever loves purity[a] and gracious speech
    will gain the king as his friend.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:11 Lit. purity of heart

It is the glory of God to (A)conceal a matter,
But the glory of (B)kings is to search out a matter.

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It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
    and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.

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Take away the (A)wicked before the king,
And his (B)throne will be established in righteousness.

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Purge the wicked from the king’s presence,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.

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21 To [a](A)show partiality is not good,
(B)Because for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:21 Lit regard the face

21 To show partiality isn’t good,
    yet for a piece of bread the valiant will transgress.

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12 If a (A)ruler pays attention to falsehood,
All his ministers become wicked.

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12 When a ruler is listening to lies,
    all of his officials tend to become wicked.

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19 A slave will not be instructed by words alone;
For though he understands, there will be no response.

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Dangerous Behaviors

19 By mere words a servant will not be corrected;
    even though he understands,
        there will be no response.

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21 One who pampers his slave from childhood
Will in the end find him to be rebellious.

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21 If you pamper a servant from his childhood,
    later on he’ll become ungrateful.

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