A (A)bribe is a [a]charm in the sight of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:8 Lit stone of favor

A bribe(A) seems like a magic stone to its owner;
wherever he turns, he succeeds.(B)

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23 A wicked person accepts a (A)bribe [a]from an inside pocket
To (B)pervert the ways of justice.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:23 Lit a fold in a robe; i.e., secretly

23 A wicked person secretly takes a bribe(A)
to subvert the course of justice.(B)

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21 An inheritance gained in a hurry at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.

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21 An inheritance gained prematurely
will not be blessed ultimately.(A)

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To do (A)righteousness and justice
Is preferred by the Lord more than sacrifice.

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Doing what is righteous and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(A)

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The (A)acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the [a]pursuit of (B)death.
The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
Because they (C)refuse to act with justice.
The way of a guilty person is (D)crooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:6 Lit seekers

Making a fortune through a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist,[a] a pursuit of death.[b][c](A)

The violence of the wicked sweeps them away
because they refuse to act justly.

A guilty one’s conduct is crooked,(B)
but the behavior of the innocent is upright.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 21:6 Or a breath blown away
  2. 21:6 Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg read a snare of death
  3. 21:6 Lit is vanity, ones seeking death

22 (A)Do not rob the poor because he is poor,
Nor (B)crush the needy at the gate;
23 For the Lord will (C)plead their case
And [a]take the life of those who rob them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:23 Lit rob the soul

22 Don’t rob a poor person because he is poor,
and don’t crush the oppressed(A) at the city gate,(B)
23 for the Lord will champion their cause(C)
and will plunder those who plunder them.

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23 These also are (A)sayings of the wise:
To [a](B)show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 One (C)who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”
(D)Peoples will curse him, nations will scold him;
25 But (E)for those who rebuke the wicked there will be delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them.
26 One who gives [b]a right answer
Kisses the lips.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:23 Lit regard the face
  2. Proverbs 24:26 Or an honest

23 These sayings also belong to the wise:(A)
It is not good to show partiality in judgment.(B)
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent”(C)
peoples will curse him,(D) and nations will denounce him;
25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and a generous blessing will come to them.

26 He who gives an honest answer
gives a kiss on the lips.

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A (A)poor man who oppresses the helpless
Is like a driving rain [a]which leaves no food.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:3 Lit and there is no bread

A destitute leader[a] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no food.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 28:3 LXX reads A wicked man

(A)Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity,
Than a person who is [a]crooked, though he is rich.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:6 Lit perverse of two ways

Better the poor person who lives with integrity(A)
than the rich one who distorts right and wrong.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. 28:6 Lit who twists two ways

One who increases his wealth by [a](A)interest of any kind,
Collects it (B)for one who is gracious to the poor.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:8 Possibly interest on money and food loans

Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest(A)
collects it for one who is kind to the poor.(B)

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(A)Open your mouth for the people who cannot speak,
For the [a]rights of all the [b]unfortunate.
Open your mouth, (B)judge righteously,
And [c]defend the (C)rights of the poor and needy.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 31:8 Lit judgment
  2. Proverbs 31:8 Lit sons of passing away
  3. Proverbs 31:9 Lit judge the afflicted

Speak up[a] for those who have no voice,[b](A)
for the justice of all who are dispossessed.[c]
Speak up, judge righteously,(B)
and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 31:8 Lit Open your mouth, also in v. 9
  2. 31:8 Lit who are mute
  3. 31:8 Lit all the sons of passing away