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24 The hands of the diligent ones shall rule,
    but laziness ends in slave labor.

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

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10 A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding
    than a hundred lashes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion;
    therefore a cruel messenger shall 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 men claim to be men of unfailing love,
    but who can find a faithful man?

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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 king who sits on the throne of judgment
    scatters away all evil with his eyes.

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

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30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil,
    and beatings purge the innermost parts.

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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 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully
    is the king’s friend.

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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 conceal a thing,
    but the glory of 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 wicked from the king’s presence,
    and his 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 show partiality is not good;
    yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.

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

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12 If a ruler listens to lies,
    all of his officials are 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 servant can’t be corrected by words.
    Though he understands, yet he will not respond.

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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 He who pampers his servant from youth
    will have him become a son in the end.

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

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