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24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
    while the lazy will be put to forced labor.

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24 Hardworking hands will rule,
but laziness results in forced labor.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:24 Or leads to debtor’s prison

10 A rebuke strikes deeper into a discerning person
    than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 Evil people seek only rebellion,
    but a cruel messenger will be sent against them.

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10 A reprimand impresses a discerning person
    more than receiving a hundred lashes impresses a fool.
11 An evil person promotes only rebellion,
and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

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Many proclaim themselves loyal,
    but who can find one worthy of trust?(A)

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Many people claim to be loyal,[a]
but who can find a trustworthy man?

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:6 The word translated loyal often means merciful. The line is difficult.

A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    winnows all evil with his eyes.

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When a king sits on his throne as judge,
he winnows out all evil with his eyes.

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30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
    beatings make clean the innermost parts.

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30 Wounds and bruises scrub away evil,
and a beating scrubs the depths of the heart.

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11 Those who love a pure heart and are gracious in speech
    will have the king as a friend.(A)

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11 A person who loves a pure heart and whose lips are gracious
    will have a king as his friend.

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It is the glory of God to conceal things,
    but the glory of kings is to search things out.(A)

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It brings glory to God to hide a matter,
but it brings glory to kings to investigate a matter.

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take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.(A)

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Remove a wicked person from a king’s presence,
and his throne will be established with righteousness.

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21 To show partiality is not good,
    yet for a piece of bread a person may do wrong.

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21 Showing favoritism is not good,
but a man may sin for a piece of bread.

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12 If a ruler listens to falsehood,
    all his officials will be wicked.

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12 If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials become wicked.

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19 By mere words slaves are not disciplined,
    for though they understand, they will not give heed.

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19 A servant cannot be disciplined with words.
Although he understands, he shows no response.

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21 A slave pampered from childhood
    will come to a bad end.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 29.21 Vg: Meaning of Heb uncertain

21 If someone pampers his servant from the time he is young,
later on he will have grief.

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