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10 An employer who hires a fool or a bystander
    is like an archer who shoots at random.

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10 An archer who shoots at anyone—
    is like someone who hires a fool or anyone who passes by.

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24 People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,
    but they’re deceiving you.
25 They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.
    Their hearts are full of many evils.[a]
26 While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,
    their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.

27 If you set a trap for others,
    you will get caught in it yourself.
If you roll a boulder down on others,
    it will crush you instead.

28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
    and flattering words cause ruin.

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Footnotes

  1. 26:25 Hebrew seven evils.

24 Someone who hates hides behind his words,
    harboring deceit within himself.
25 Though he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,
    for there are seven detestable things in his heart.
26 Though malice disguises itself with deception,
    its evil will be exposed publicly.

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
    and the stone will come back
        on whoever starts it rolling.
28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
    and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

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Wounds from a sincere friend
    are better than many kisses from an enemy.

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Wounds from someone who loves are trustworthy,
    but kisses from an enemy speak volumes.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:6 Lit. enemy are profuse

To flatter friends
    is to lay a trap for their feet.

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A strong man who flatters his neighbor
    is setting a trap where he walks.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:5 Lit. trap for his footsteps