He stores up success[a] for the upright;
He is a shield for those who live with integrity(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:7 Or resourcefulness

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright
    and is a shield to those who walk in integrity—

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Laziness

Go to the ant,(A) you slacker!(B)
Observe its ways and become wise.
Without leader, administrator, or ruler,
it prepares its provisions in summer;
it gathers its food during harvest.(C)

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The Folly of Laziness

Go to the ant, you lazy man!
    Observe its ways and become wise.
It has no commander,
    officer, or ruler,
but prepares its provisions in the summer
    and gathers its food in the harvest.

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12 I, wisdom, share a home with shrewdness
and have knowledge and discretion.(A)
13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil.(B)
I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct,
and perverse speech.
14 I possess good advice and sound wisdom;[a]
I have understanding and strength.(C)
15 It is by me that kings reign(D)
and rulers enact just law;
16 by me, princes lead,
as do nobles and all righteous judges.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 8:14 Or resourcefulness
  2. 8:16 Some Hb mss, LXX read nobles who judge the earth

The Way of Wisdom

12 “I, wisdom, am related to[a] prudence.
    I know how to be discreet.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.
    Pride, arrogance, an evil lifestyle,
        and perverted speech I despise.
14 Counsel belongs to me,
    along with sound judgment.
I am understanding.
    Power belongs to me.
15 Kings reign by me,
    and rulers dispense justice through me.
16 By me leaders rule, as do noble officials
    and all who govern justly.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:12 Lit. wisdom, live with
  2. Proverbs 8:16 So MT; LXX reads and tyrants rule the earth

The righteousness of the blameless clears his path,
but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.

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The righteousness of the innocent creates a level path,
    but the wicked fall by their wickedness.

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23 The desire of the righteous turns out well,(A)
but the hope of the wicked leads to wrath.(B)

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23 The desire of the righteous is to seek good,
    but the hope of the wicked results in wrath.

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24 The diligent hand will rule,
but laziness will lead to forced labor.(A)

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24 The diligent will take control,
    but the lazy will be put to forced labor.

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From the fruit of his mouth,
a person will enjoy good things,(A)
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.(B)

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From the fruit of his words a man receives benefit,[a]
    but the treacherous crave violence.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:2 Lit. man eats good things

13 The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty,(A)
but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.(B)

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13 Anyone who despises a word of advice will pay for it,
    but whoever heeds a command will be rewarded.

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22 Plans fail when there is no counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.(A)

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22 Plans fail without advice,
    but with many counselors they are confirmed.

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Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.(A)

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Entrust your work to the Lord,
    and your planning will succeed.

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A person’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.(A)

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A person plans his way,
    but the Lord directs his steps.

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12 Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,(A)
since a throne is established through righteousness.(B)

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12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for through righteousness the throne is established.

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