Guarding the paths of justice,
And He (A)watches over the way of His godly ones.
Then you will discern (B)righteousness, justice,
And integrity, and every (C)good path.

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He protects the paths of justice
    and guards the way of those who are loyal to him.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
    as well as integrity, every good course.

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20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,

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20 I walk on the way of righteousness,
    on the paths of justice,

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The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

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The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the guidance of the wicked is deceptive.

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23 (A)Abundant food is in the uncultivated ground of the poor,
But [a]it is swept away by injustice.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:23 Lit there is what is swept

23 A poor person’s land might produce much food,
    but it is unjustly swept away.

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10 A divine (A)verdict is on the lips of the king;
His mouth should not [a]err in judgment.
11 A (B)just balance and scales belong to the Lord;
All the [b]weights of the bag are His [c]concern.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
Because a (C)throne is established on righteousness.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:10 Lit be unfaithful
  2. Proverbs 16:11 Lit stones
  3. Proverbs 16:11 Lit work

10 A king’s speech is like an oracle;
    in a judgment, one can’t go against his words.
11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
    all the weights in the bag are his doing.
12 Kings detest wicked deeds,
    for their thrones are founded on righteousness.

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15 One who (A)justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

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15 Judging the righteous wicked and the wicked righteous—
    the Lord detests both of these.

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23 A wicked person accepts a (A)bribe [a]from an inside pocket
To (B)pervert the ways of justice.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:23 Lit a fold in a robe; i.e., secretly

23 The wicked take secret bribes
    to twist the way of justice.

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26 It is also not good to (A)fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

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26 It isn’t good to punish the righteous,
    to strike the honorable for their integrity.

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To (A)show partiality to the wicked is not good,
Nor to (B)suppress the righteous in judgment.

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Favoring the wicked isn’t good;
    it denies justice to the righteous.

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28 A worthless witness makes a mockery of justice,
And the mouth of the wicked [a](A)swallows wrongdoing.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:28 Another reading is pours out

28 A worthless witness mocks justice;
    the wicked mouth gulps down trouble.

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To do (A)righteousness and justice
Is preferred by the Lord more than sacrifice.

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Acting with righteousness and justice
    is more valued by the Lord than sacrifice.

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The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
Because they (A)refuse to act with justice.

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The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
    for they refuse to act with justice.

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