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10 A reproof enters deeper into a wise man
    than a hundred stripes into a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion;
    therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

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10 A rebuke strikes him who understands
    deeper than one hundred blows to a fool.
11 An evil person will seek only rebellion,
    and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

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20 Hear counsel and receive instruction,
    that you may be wise in your latter days.

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20 Listen to advice and accept instruction
    so that you will gain wisdom for your future.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:20 Literally “after things

27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction
    that causes to err from the words of knowledge.

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27 Cease to listen to instruction, my child,
    and you will stray[a] from sayings of knowledge.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:27 Literally “in order to stray”

The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion;
    whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.

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Roaring like the lion is the dreaded anger of a king;
    he who provokes him forfeits his life.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:2 Or “soul,” or “inner self”

Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness,
    but who can find a faithful man?

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Many a person will proclaim his loyalty for himself,
    but a man who is trustworthy, who can find?

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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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11 Even a child is known by his doings,
    whether his work is pure and whether it is right.

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11 Even by his acts, a young man[a] will make himself known,
    whether his acts are pure and upright.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:11 Or “young boy,” or “adolescent”

30 The blows of a wound cleanse away evil,
    so do stripes the inward parts of the heart.

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30 The blows of a wound will cleanse evil,
    as will[a] beatings of the innermost part.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:30 Hebrew “and”
  2. Proverbs 20:30 Literally “parts of the inmost”

21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,
    as the rivers of water; He turns it to any place He will.

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21 Streams of water are the heart[a] of a king in the hand of Yahweh;
    wherever[b] he will desire, he will turn.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:1 Or “mind”
  2. Proverbs 21:1 Literally “upon all that”

11 He who loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips
    the king will be his friend.

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11 He who loves purity of heart
    and hasgracious speech,[a] his friend is the king.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:11 Literally “grace of his lips”

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing,
    but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
As the heaven for height, and the earth for depth,
    so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Take away the dross from the silver,
    and there will come forth a vessel for the refiner.
Take away the wicked from before the king,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.

Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king,
    and do not stand in the place of great men;
for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”
    than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince,
    whom your eyes have seen.

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The glory of God[a] conceals things,
    but the glory of kings searches out things.
As heaven is to height and the earth is to depth,
    so is the heart[b] of kings—there is no searching.
Remove the dross from silver,
    and it will become a vessel for the smith.
Remove the wicked before a king,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.[c]
Do not promote yourself before the king,
    and in the place of the great ones do not stand.
For it is better that he say to you, “Ascend here,”
    than he humble you before a noble.
What your eyes have seen,

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:2 Or “gods”
  2. Proverbs 25:3 Or “mind”
  3. Proverbs 25:5 Hebrew “in the righteousness”

18 Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit;
    so he who waits on his master will be honored.

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18 He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
    and he who guards his master[a] will be honored.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:18 Or “lord”