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27 A (A)vile man digs up evil,
And the words on his lips are like (B)scorching fire.
28 A perverse man spreads strife,
And a whisperer separates close companions.
29 A man of violence (C)entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

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

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

29 A violent person lures his neighbor,(C)
leading him on a path 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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An (A)evildoer gives heed to lips of wickedness;
[a]A liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:4 Lit Falsehood

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

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Footnotes

  1. 17:4 Lit to lips of iniquity

He who (A)covers a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter (B)separates close companions.

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

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19 He who (A)loves transgression loves quarreling;
He who (B)makes his doorway high seeks destruction.
20 He who has a crooked heart (C)finds no good,
And he who is (D)perverted in his tongue falls into evil.

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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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24 Wisdom is in the presence of the one who understands,
But the (A)eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

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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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18 He who separates himself seeks his own desire,
He (A)breaks out in dispute against all sound wisdom.
A fool does not delight in discernment,
But only (B)in revealing his own heart.

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. 18:2 Lit to uncover his heart

23 The (A)poor man speaks supplications,
But the (B)rich man (C)answers with strong words.

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

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

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

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(A)Many will seek the favor of a noble man,
And everyone is a friend to a man who (B)gives gifts.

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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 a man will (A)call out his own lovingkindness,
But a (B)faithful man, who can find?

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

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

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14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.

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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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19 He who (A)goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with [a](B)one of loose lips.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:19 Lit one who opens his lips

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

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