A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and share an inheritance among brothers.

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An insightful servant rules over a disgraceful son
    and will divide an inheritance
    with the brothers.

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The one who is lazy in his work
is brother to a vandal.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 18:9 Lit master of destruction

Those who are lazy in their work
    are brothers to thugs.

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15 Laziness induces deep sleep,
and a lazy person will go hungry.(A)

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15 Laziness brings on deep sleep;
    a slacker goes hungry.

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24 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth!(A)

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24 Lazy people bury their hand in the bowl;
    they won’t even put it to their mouth.

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The slacker does not plow during planting season;[a]
at harvest time he looks,[b] and there is nothing.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 20:4 Lit plow in winter
  2. 20:4 Lit inquires

The lazy don’t plow during winter;
    at harvest they look but find nothing.

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13 Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor;
open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.(A)

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13 Don’t love sleep or you will be poor;
    stay alert and you will have plenty to eat.

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The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit,
but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.(A)

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The plans of the diligent end up in profit,
    but those who hurry end up with loss.

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17 The one who loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich.(A)

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17 Those who love pleasure end up poor;
    lovers of wine and oil won’t get rich.

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25 A slacker’s craving will kill him
because his hands refuse to work.(A)
26 He is filled with craving[a] all day long,
but the righteous give and don’t hold back.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 21:26 Lit He craves a craving

25 The desires of the lazy will kill them,
    because their hands refuse to do anything.
26 The lazy desire things constantly,
    but the righteous give without holding back.

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13 The slacker says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed in the public square!” (A)

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13 A lazy person says, “There’s a lion in the street!
    I’ll be killed in the town square!”

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29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?
He will stand in the presence of kings.
He will not stand in the presence of the unknown.(A)

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29 Do you see people who work skillfully?
    They will work for kings
        but not work for lowly people.

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10 If you do nothing in a difficult time,
your strength is limited.

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10 If you show yourself weak on a day of distress,
    your strength is too small.

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