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A slave who acts insightfully will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the 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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He also who is (A)slack in his work
(B)Is brother to him who destroys.

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

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15 (A)Laziness casts into a deep sleep,
And a slack-handed soul will suffer hunger.

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

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24 The (A)sluggard buries his hand (B)in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

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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 (A)sluggard does not plow from winter on,
So he [a]begs during the harvest and has nothing.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:4 Lit asks

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:13 Lit bread

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

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The [a]thoughts of the (A)diligent lead surely to profit,
But everyone (B)who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:5 Or plans

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

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17 He who (A)loves [a]pleasure will become a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:17 Lit gladness

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:26 Lit desires desire

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 (A)sluggard says, “There is a lion outside;
I will be killed in the streets!”

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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 man skilled in his work?
He will (A)stand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure men.

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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 (A)are slack in the day of trouble,
Your strength is in trouble.

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

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