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11 Discretion will watch over you;
    understanding will protect you,
12 in order to deliver you from the way of evil,[a]
    from a man who speaks devious things—
13 those who forsake the paths of uprightness
    to walk in ways of darkness,
14 those who are happy to do evil,
    for they delight in the deviousness of evil,
15 who are crooked in their ways,[b]
    and devious in their paths;
16 in order to deliver you from a strange woman,
    from a foreign woman who flatters[c] with her sayings,
17 she who forsakes the partner of her youth
    and has forgotten the covenant of her God,
18 for her house sinks to death,
    and to the dead[d] are her paths.
19 Of all who go to her, none shall return,
    nor do they reach paths of life.
20 So that you will walk on the road of those who are good,
    and the paths of those who are righteous you shall keep.
21 For those who are upright will dwell in the land,[e]
    and those who are blameless[f] will remain in it.
22 And those who are wicked will be cut off from the land,
    and those who are treacherous will be uprooted from it.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 2:12 Or “evildoer”
  2. Proverbs 2:15 Literally “that in their ways are crooked”
  3. Proverbs 2:16 Or “makes smooth”
  4. Proverbs 2:18 Or “Rephaim”
  5. Proverbs 2:21 Or “earth”
  6. Proverbs 2:21 Or “innocent”

31 Do not envy a man of violence,
    and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for he who is perverse is an abomination of Yahweh,
    but those who are upright are his confidence.

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Against Worthlessness

12 A worthless man, an evil man,
    goes around with deceitful speech.[a]
13 Winking in his eye, shuffling in his foot,
    pointing in his fingers,
14 perversion in his heart, he devises evil;
    at all times he will send out discord.[b]
15 Upon such a man,[c] suddenly shall his calamity come;
    in a moment he will be damaged and there is no healing.[d]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:12 Literally “crookedness of mouth”
  2. Proverbs 6:14 Or “quarrels”
  3. Proverbs 6:15 Literally “thus”
  4. Proverbs 6:15 Or “repair”

Blessings belong to the head of the righteous,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

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11 A fountain of life is a mouth of righteousness,
    and a mouth of wickedness conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
    but love covers over all offenses.
13 On the lips of one who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:13 Literally “heart”

18 He who conceals hatred has lips of deceit,
    and he who utters slander—he is a fool.

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13 A gossip walks about telling a secret,
    but the trustworthy in spirit keeps the matter.

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15 The way of a fool is upright in his own eyes,
    but he who listens to advice is wise.
16 As for a fool, on that very day[a] he makes his anger known,
    but he who ignores an insult is prudent.
17 He who will speak truth will reveal righteousness,
    but the witness of falsehood, deceit.
18 There is one who speaks rashly, like the thrust of a sword,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:16 Literally “on the day”

16 Anyone who is clever will act with intelligence,
    but the fool will display folly.

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27 A man of wickedness concocts evil,
    and his lips are like a scorching fire.
28 A person of perversity will spread dissent,
    and he who whispers separates a close friend.
29 A person of violence will entice his neighbor
    and cause him to walk on a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes does so in order to plan perverse things;
    he who purses his lips will bring evil to pass.

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He who does evil listens to lips of wickedness,
    and the liar gives heed to the tongue of mischief.

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He who forgives an affront fosters love,
    but he who waits on a matter will alienate a friend.

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11 An evil person will seek only rebellion,
    and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

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19 He who loves transgression loves strife;
    he who builds his high thresholds seeks destruction.
20 He who is crooked of heart[a] will not find goodness,
    and he who is perverse, by his tongue he will fall into calamity.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:20 Or “mind”

24 He who understands sets his face toward wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool, to the end of the earth.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:24 Or “land”

18 He who is selfish seeks a craving;[a]
    against all sound judgment he shows contempt.
A fool will not take pleasure in understanding,
    but in expressing his heart.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:1 Or “boundary”
  2. Proverbs 18:2 Or “mind”

14 “Bad, bad,” the buyer will say,
    but when one goes to him, then he will boast.

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29 A wicked man is strong in his countenance,[a]
    but the upright will appoint his paths.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:29 Literally “his face”

10 Drive out a scoffer and strife will go out;
    quarrel and abuse will cease.

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He who sows injustice will reap calamity,
    and the rod of his anger will fail.

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26 Do not be with those who give a pledge[a]
    by becoming[b] surety.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:26 Literally “strike a hand”
  2. Proverbs 22:26 Literally “in the becomings of”