23 There is profit in all hard work,
but endless talk[a] leads only to poverty.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 14:23 Lit but word of lips

23 There is profit in hard work,
    but mere talk leads to poverty.

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The house of the righteous has great wealth,
but trouble accompanies the income of the wicked.

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Great treasure is in the house of the righteous,
    but the gain of the wicked brings trouble.

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16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure with turmoil.(A)

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16 Better a little with fear of the Lord
    than a great treasure with turmoil.

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Iniquity is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,(A)
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.(B)

When a person’s ways please the Lord,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.(C)

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Love and faithfulness reconcile guilt;
    the fear of the Lord turns away evil.
When people draw favor from the Lord,
    even their enemies are at peace with them.

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26 A worker’s appetite works for him
because his hunger[a] urges him on.

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Footnotes

  1. 16:26 Lit mouth

26 The appetite of workers labors for them,
    for their hunger presses them on.

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A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and share an inheritance among brothers.

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An insightful servant rules over a disgraceful son
    and will divide an inheritance
    with the brothers.

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17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord,(A)
and he will give a reward to the lender.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. 19:17 Lit to him

17 Those who are gracious to the poor lend to the Lord,
    and the Lord will fully repay them.

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13 Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor;
open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.(A)

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13 Don’t love sleep or you will be poor;
    stay alert and you will have plenty to eat.

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Humility, the fear of the Lord,
results in wealth, honor, and life.(A)

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The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord
    is wealth, honor, and life.

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27 Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field;(A)
afterward, build your house.

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27 Get your outside work done;
    make preparations in the field;
    then you can build your house.

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18 Whoever tends a fig tree(A) will eat its fruit,(B)
and whoever looks after his master will be honored.

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18 Those who tend a fig tree will eat its fruit,
    and those who look after their master will be honored.

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23 Know well the condition of your flock,(A)
and pay attention to your herds,
24 for wealth is not forever;(B)
not even a crown lasts for all time.
25 When hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grain from the hills is gathered in,
26 lambs will provide your clothing,
and goats, the price of a field;
27 there will be enough goat’s milk for your food—
food for your household
and nourishment for your female servants.(C)

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23 Know your flock well;
    pay attention to your herds,
24         for no treasure lasts forever,
        nor a crown generation after generation.
25 When the grass goes away, new growth appears,
    and the plants of the hills are gathered,
26         then the lambs will provide your clothes,
        and the goats will be the price of your fields.
27 There will be enough goat’s milk for your food,
    for the food of your house,
    and to nourish your young women.

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