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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 scoundrel(A) plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.(B)

28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,(C)
    and a gossip separates close friends.(D)

29 A violent person entices their neighbor
    and leads them down a path that is not good.(E)

30 Whoever winks(F) with their eye is plotting perversity;
    whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

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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 deceitful lips;
    a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

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

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Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,(A)
    but whoever repeats the matter separates close 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 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
    whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
    one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

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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 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
    but a fool’s eyes(A) wander 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 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
    and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.

Fools find no pleasure in understanding
    but delight in airing their own opinions.(A)

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

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23 The poor plead for mercy,
    but the rich answer harshly.

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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,
    but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.(A)

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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 curry favor with a ruler,(A)
    and everyone is the 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 claim to have unfailing love,
    but a faithful person who can find?(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

When a king sits on his throne to judge,(A)
    he winnows out all evil with his eyes.(B)

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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 no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
    then goes off and boasts about the purchase.

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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 A gossip betrays a confidence;(A)
    so avoid anyone who talks too much.

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