27 A worthless man digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.(A)

28 A contrary man spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.(B)

29 A violent man lures his neighbor,(C)
leading him in a way that is not good.(D)

30 The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;
the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.(E)

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27 A worthless person concocts evil gossip[a]
    his lips are like a burning fire.

28 A deceitful man stirs dissension,
    and anyone who gossips separates friends.
29 A violent man entices his companion
    and leads him on a path that is not good.
30 Whoever winks knowingly[b] is plotting[c] deceit;
    anyone who purses his lips is bent towards evil.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:27 The Heb. lacks gossip
  2. Proverbs 16:30 Lit. with his eyes
  3. Proverbs 16:30 So MT; LXX Syr Targ Vg read winks with his eyes considers

A wicked person listens to malicious talk;[a]
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:4 Lit to lips of iniquity

Whoever practices evil pays attention to wicked speech,
    and the liar listens to malicious talk.

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Whoever conceals an offense promotes love,(A)
but whoever gossips about it separates friends.(B)

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Anyone who overlooks[a] an offense promotes love,
    but someone who gossips separates close friends.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:9 Lit. covers

19 One who loves to offend loves strife;(A)
one who builds a high threshold invites injury.

20 One with a twisted mind will not succeed,
and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.(B)

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19 The person who loves transgression loves strife;
    the person who builds a high gate invites destruction.

20 The person whose mind[a] is perverse does not find good,
    and anyone with perverted speech falls into trouble.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:20 Lit. heart

24 Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive,
but a fool’s eyes(A) roam to the ends of the earth.

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24 A person with understanding has wisdom as his objective,
    but a fool looks only[a] to earthly goals.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:24 The Heb. lacks only

18 One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;
he rebels against all sound judgment.

A fool does not delight in understanding,
but only wants to show off his opinions.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:2 Lit to uncover his heart

How Fools Talk

18 Whoever isolates himself pursues selfish ends;
he resists all sound advice.

A fool finds no satisfaction in trying to understand,
    for he would rather express his own opinion.

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23 The poor man pleads,(A)
but the rich one answers roughly.(B)

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23 The poor person pleads for mercy,
    but the wealthy man responds harshly.

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Wealth attracts many friends,(A)
but a poor man is separated from his friend.

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Wealth brings many friends,
    but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

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Many seek a ruler’s favor,(A)
and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.(B)

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Many curry favor of an official;
    everyone is a friend of the gift giver.

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Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,
but who can find a trustworthy man?(A)

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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 sitting on a throne to judge
sifts out all evil with his eyes.(A)

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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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14 “It’s worthless, it’s worthless!” the buyer says,
but after he is on his way, he gloats.

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14 “This is bad, bad,” says whoever is buying—
    but then he brags as he walks away after the sale.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:14 The Heb. lacks after the sale

19 The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;(A)
avoid someone with a big mouth.(B)

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19 Whoever spreads gossip betrays confidences;
    so don’t get involved with someone who talks too much.

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