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10 Like an archer who wounds everybody
    is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 26.10 Meaning of Heb uncertain

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

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24 An enemy dissembles in speaking
    while harboring deceit within;(A)
25 when an enemy speaks graciously, do not believe it,
    for there are seven abominations concealed within;(B)
26 though hatred is covered with guile,
    the enemy’s wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.(C)
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
    and a stone will come back on the one who starts it rolling.(D)
28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
    and a flattering mouth works ruin.(E)

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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.

Well meant are the wounds a friend inflicts,
    but profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

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

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Whoever flatters a neighbor
    is spreading a net for the neighbor’s feet.

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

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