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27 A worthless man devises mischief.
    His speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man stirs up strife.
    A whisperer separates close friends.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor,
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 One who winks his eyes to plot perversities,
    one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.

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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 evildoer heeds wicked lips.
    A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

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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 covers an offense promotes love;
    but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

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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 loves disobedience loves strife.
    One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
20 One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity,
    and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.

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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 before the face of one who has understanding,
    but the eyes of a fool wander to 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 A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness,
    and defies all sound judgment.
A fool has no delight in understanding,
    but only in revealing his own opinion.

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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 poor plead for mercy,
    but the rich answer harshly.

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

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Wealth adds many friends,
    but the poor 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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Many will entreat the favor of a ruler,
    and everyone is a friend to a man who 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 men claim to be men of unfailing love,
    but who can find a faithful man?

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

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A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    scatters away all evil with his eyes.

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

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14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer;
    but when he is gone 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 goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;
    therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

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

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