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23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel
    are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,
    but he harbors evil in his heart.
25 When his speech is charming, don’t believe him,
    for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 His malice may be concealed by deception,
    but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

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23 A clay vessel plated with a thin veneer of silver—
    that’s what smooth[a] lips with a wicked heart are.
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.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:23 So LXX; MT reads burning

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked;
    but those who keep the law contend with them.

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Those who forsake the Law praise the wicked,
    but whoever keeps it[a] fights them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:4 Lit. keeps the Law

The righteous care about justice for the poor.
    The wicked aren’t concerned about knowledge.

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The righteous person is concerned about the poor;
    but the wicked don’t understand what they need to know.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:7 Lit. understand knowledge

12 If a ruler listens to lies,
    all of his officials are wicked.

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12 When a ruler is listening to lies,
    all of his officials tend to become wicked.

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