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

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

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He who covers an offense promotes love;
    but he who repeats a matter separates best 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 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 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 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 The discerning person looks to wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool to the ends of the earth.(A)

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

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

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Wealth adds many friends,
    but the poor is separated from his friend.

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

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

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

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

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

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