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He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
    He is a shield to those who walk with 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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Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.
    Learn from their ways and become wise!
Though they have no prince
    or governor or ruler to make them work,
they labor hard all summer,
    gathering food for the winter.

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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, live together with good judgment.
    I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.
13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil.
    Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,
    corruption and perverse speech.
14 Common sense and success belong to me.
    Insight and strength are mine.
15 Because of me, kings reign,
    and rulers make just decrees.
16 Rulers lead with my help,
    and nobles make righteous judgments.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Greek version read and nobles are judges over the earth.

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 godly are directed by honesty;
    the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.

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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 godly can look forward to a reward,
    while the wicked can expect only judgment.

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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 Work hard and become a leader;
    be lazy and become a slave.

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

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Wise words will win you a good meal,
    but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.

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

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13 People who despise advice are asking for trouble;
    those who respect a command will succeed.

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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 Plans go wrong for lack of advice;
    many advisers bring success.

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

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Commit your actions to the Lord,
    and your plans will succeed.

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Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.(A)

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We can make our plans,
    but the Lord determines our steps.

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In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.(A)

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12 A king detests wrongdoing,
    for his rule is built on justice.

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

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