27 A (A)worthless person digs up evil,
While [a]his words are like (B)scorching fire.
28 A perverse person spreads strife,
And a [b]slanderer separates close friends.
29 A person 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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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:27 Lit on his lips
  2. Proverbs 16:28 Or gossip

27 Scoundrels concoct evil,
    and their speech is like a scorching fire.(A)
28 A perverse person spreads strife,
    and a whisperer separates close friends.(B)
29 The violent entice their neighbors
    and lead them in a way that is not good.(C)
30 One who winks the eyes plans[a] perverse things;
    one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.

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Footnotes

  1. 16.30 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb to plan

An (A)evildoer listens to wicked lips;
A [a]liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:4 Lit falsehood

An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
    and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.

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One who (A)conceals an offense seeks love,
But one who repeats a matter (B)separates close friends.

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One who forgives an affront fosters friendship,
    but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.(A)

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19 One who (A)loves wrongdoing loves strife;
One who (B)makes his doorway high seeks destruction.
20 One who has a crooked [a]mind (C)finds nothing good,
And one who is [b](D)corrupted in his language falls into evil.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:20 Lit heart
  2. Proverbs 17:20 Lit altered in his tongue

19 One who loves transgression loves strife;
    one who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.(A)
20 The crooked of mind do not prosper,
    and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.(B)

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

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24 The discerning person looks to wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool to the ends of the earth.(A)

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Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

18 One who separates himself seeks his own desire;
He [a](A)quarrels against all sound wisdom.
A fool does not delight in understanding,
But (B)in revealing his own [b]mind.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:1 Lit breaks out
  2. Proverbs 18:2 Lit heart

18 The one who lives alone is self-indulgent,
    showing contempt for all sound judgment.[a]
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only in expressing personal opinion.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 18.1 Meaning of Heb uncertain

23 A (A)poor person utters pleadings,
But a (B)rich person (C)answers defiantly.

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23 The poor use entreaties,
    but the rich answer roughly.(A)

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

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Wealth brings many friends,
    but the poor are left friendless.(A)

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(A)Many will seek the favor of a [a]generous person,
And every person is a friend to (B)him who gives gifts.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:6 Or noble

Many seek the favor of the generous,
    and everyone is a friend to a giver of gifts.(A)

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

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Many proclaim themselves loyal,
    but who can find one worthy of trust?(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 who sits on the throne of judgment
    winnows all evil with his eyes.

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

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14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
    then goes away and boasts.

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19 One who (A)goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with [a](B)a gossip.

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Footnotes

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

19 A gossip reveals secrets;
    therefore do not associate with a babbler.(A)

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