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A wise servant will rule over the [unworthy] son who acts shamefully and brings disgrace [to the family]
And [the worthy servant] will share in the inheritance among the brothers.

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A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.

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He who is careless in his work
Is a brother to him who destroys.

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He also who is (A)lax in his work
(B)Is a brother to him who destroys.

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15 
Laziness casts one into a deep sleep [unmindful of lost opportunity],
And the idle person will suffer hunger.

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15 (A)Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And [a]a lazy [b]person will suffer hunger.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:15 Lit an idle
  2. Proverbs 19:15 Lit soul

24 
The lazy man buries his hand in the [food] dish,
But will not even bring it to his mouth again.

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24 The [a](A)lazy one buries his hand (B)in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:24 Lit idle person


The lazy man does not plow when the winter [planting] season arrives;
So he begs at the [next] harvest and has nothing [to reap].

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The [a](A)lazy one does not plow after the autumn,
So he [b]begs during the harvest and has nothing.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:4 Lit idle
  2. Proverbs 20:4 Lit asks

13 
Do not love [excessive] sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes [so that you can do your work] and you will be satisfied with bread.

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13 (A)Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with [a]food.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:13 Lit bread


The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance and advantage,
But everyone who acts in haste comes surely to poverty.

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The plans of the (A)diligent certainly lead to advantage,
But everyone (B)who is in a hurry certainly comes to poverty.

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17 
He who loves [only selfish] pleasure will become a poor man;
He who loves and is devoted to [a]wine and [olive] oil will not become rich.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:17 I.e. items associated with lavish feasting and excessive luxury.

17 One who (A)loves pleasure will become a poor person;
One who loves wine and oil will not become rich.

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25 
The desire of the lazy kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor;
26 
He craves all the day long [and does no work],
But the righteous [willingly] gives and does not withhold [what he has].(A)

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25 The (A)desire of the [a]lazy one puts him to death,
For his hands refuse to work;
26 All day long he [b]is craving,
While the righteous (B)gives and does not hold back.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:25 Lit idle
  2. Proverbs 21:26 Lit desires desire

13 
The lazy one [manufactures excuses and] says, “There is a lion outside!
I will be killed in the streets [if I go out to work]!”

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13 The [a](A)lazy one says, “There is a lion outside;
I will be killed in the streets!”

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:13 Lit idle

29 
Do you see a man skillful and experienced in his work?
He will stand [in honor] before kings;
He will not stand before obscure men.

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29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?
He will (A)stand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure people.

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10 
If you are slack (careless) in the day of distress,
Your strength is limited.

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10 If you (A)show yourself lacking courage on the day of distress,
Your strength is meager.

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