He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a (A)shield to those who walk in integrity,

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He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield(A) to those whose walk is blameless,(B)

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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

Go to the ant, you sluggard;(A)
    consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer(B)
    and gathers its food at harvest.(C)

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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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12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.(A)
13 To fear the Lord(B) is to hate evil;(C)
    I hate(D) pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.(E)
15 By me kings reign
    and rulers(F) issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,(G)
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers

The (A)righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way,
But (B)the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

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The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,(A)
    but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.(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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23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

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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

24 Diligent hands will rule,
    but laziness ends in forced labor.(A)

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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

From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,(A)
    but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

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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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13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,(A)
    but whoever respects(B) a command is rewarded.(C)

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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

22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,(A)
    but with many advisers(B) they succeed.(C)

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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

Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.(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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In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.(A)

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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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12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for a throne is established through righteousness.(A)

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