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27 Prepare your work outside,
    and get your fields ready.
    Afterwards, build your house.

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27 Prepare your work outside;
    get everything ready for you in the field;
    and after that build your house.

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30 I went by the field of the sluggard,
    by the vineyard of the man void of understanding:
31 Behold, it was all grown over with thorns.
    Its surface was covered with nettles,
    and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered well.
    I saw, and received instruction:
33 a little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to sleep,
34 so your poverty will come as a robber
    and your want as an armed man.

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30 I passed by the field of one who was lazy,
    by the vineyard of a stupid person,(A)
31 and see, it was all overgrown with thorns;
    the ground was covered with nettles,
    and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw and considered it;
    I looked and received instruction.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,(B)
34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
    and want, like an armed warrior.

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It is the glory of God to conceal a thing,
    but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

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It is the glory of God to conceal things,
    but the glory of kings is to search things out.(A)

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13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest,
    so is a faithful messenger to those who send him;
    for he refreshes the soul of his masters.

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13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
    are faithful messengers to those who send them;
    they refresh the spirit of their masters.(A)

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13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
    A fierce lion roams the streets!”
14 As the door turns on its hinges,
    so does the sluggard on his bed.
15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish.
    He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
    than seven men who answer with discretion.

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13 The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the road!
    There is a lion in the streets!”(A)
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
    so does a lazy person in bed.
15 The lazy person buries a hand in the dish
    and is too tired to bring it back to the mouth.(B)
16 The lazy person is wiser in self-esteem
    than seven who can answer discreetly.

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23 Know well the state of your flocks,
    and pay attention to your herds:

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23 Know well the condition of your flocks,
    and give attention to your herds,

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19 One who works his land will have an abundance of food;
    but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

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19 Anyone who tills the land will have plenty of bread,
    but one who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.(A)

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24 “There are four things which are little on the earth,
    but they are exceedingly wise:
25     The ants are not a strong people,
    yet they provide their food in the summer.
26     The hyraxes are but a feeble folk,
    yet make they their houses in the rocks.
27     The locusts have no king,
    yet they advance in ranks.
28     You can catch a lizard with your hands,
    yet it is in kings’ palaces.

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24 Four things on earth are small,
    yet they are exceedingly wise:
25 the ants are a people without strength,
    yet they provide their food in the summer;(A)
26 the badgers are a people without power,
    yet they make their homes in the rocks;(B)
27 the locusts have no king,
    yet all of them march in rank;
28 the lizard[a] can be grasped in the hand,
    yet it is found in kings’ palaces.

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Footnotes

  1. 30.28 Or spider