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;
He is a (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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Go to the (A)ant, you [a](B)lazy one,
Observe its ways and be wise,
Which, having (C)no chief,
Officer, or ruler,
Prepares its food (D)in the summer
And gathers its provision in the harvest.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:6 Lit idle one

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

12 “I, wisdom, (A)dwell with prudence,
And I find (B)knowledge and discretion.
13 The (C)fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
(D)Pride, arrogance, (E)the evil way,
And the (F)perverted mouth, I hate.
14 (G)Advice is mine and (H)sound wisdom;
I am understanding, (I)power is mine.
15 By me (J)kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.

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

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The (A)righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way,
But (B)the wicked will fall by his own 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 only good,
But the (A)expectation of the wicked is 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 hand of the diligent will rule,
But the [a]lazy hand will be (A)put to forced labor.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:24 Lit idle

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 a person’s mouth he [a](A)enjoys good,
But the [b]desire of the treacherous is (B)violence.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:2 Lit eats
  2. Proverbs 13:2 Lit soul

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 One who (A)despises the word will do badly,
But one who fears the commandment will be (B)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 Without consultation, plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they [a]succeed.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:22 Or are established

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

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[a](A)Commit your works to the Lord,
And your plans will be established.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:3 Lit Roll

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

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The mind of a (A)person plans his way,
But (B)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 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
Because a (A)throne is established on righteousness.

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