18 These men lie in wait(A) for their own blood;
    they ambush only themselves!(B)
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
    it takes away the life of those who get it.(C)

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18 but they set an ambush to kill themselves;[a]
they attack their own lives.
19 Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly;(A)
it takes the lives of those who receive it.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 1:18 Lit they ambush for their blood
  2. 1:19 Lit takes the life of its masters

16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.(A)

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16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure with turmoil.(A)

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27 The greedy bring ruin to their households,
    but the one who hates bribes will live.(A)

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27 The one who profits dishonestly(A) troubles his household,
but the one who hates bribes will live.(B)

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26 All day long he craves for more,
    but the righteous(A) give without sparing.(B)

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26 He is filled with craving[a] all day long,
but the righteous give and don’t hold back.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 21:26 Lit He craves a craving

22 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
    to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.(A)

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22 A good name is to be chosen over great wealth;
favor is better than silver and gold.(A)

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16 If you find honey, eat just enough—
    too much of it, and you will vomit.(A)

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16 If you find honey,(A) eat only what you need;
otherwise, you’ll get sick from it and vomit.(B)

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20 Death and Destruction[a] are never satisfied,(A)
    and neither are human eyes.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:20 Hebrew Abaddon

20 Sheol and Abaddon(A) are never satisfied,(B)
and people’s eyes are never satisfied.(C)

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Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than the rich whose ways are perverse.(A)

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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

Whoever increases wealth by taking interest(A) or profit from the poor
    amasses it for another,(B) who will be kind to the poor.(C)

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

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22 The stingy are eager to get rich
    and are unaware that poverty awaits them.(A)

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22 A greedy one[a] is in a hurry for wealth;
he doesn’t know that poverty will come to him.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 28:22 Lit A man with an evil eye

25 The greedy stir up conflict,(A)
    but those who trust in the Lord(B) will prosper.

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25 A greedy person stirs up conflict,(A)
but whoever trusts in the Lord will prosper.(B)

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By justice a king gives a country stability,(A)
    but those who are greedy for[a] bribes tear it down.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:4 Or who give

By justice a king brings stability to a land,(A)
but a person who demands “contributions”[a]
demolishes it.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 29:4 The Hb word for contributions usually refers to offerings in worship.