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General Maxims

Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse;
    whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.(A)
Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you;
    rebuke the wise, and he will love you.(B)
Give instruction[a] to the wise, and they will become wiser still;
    teach the righteous, and they will gain in learning.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 9.9 Heb lacks instruction

Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
    and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
(A)Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
    (B)reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Give instruction[a] to a wise man, and he will be (C)still wiser;
    teach a righteous man, and he will (D)increase in learning.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:9 Hebrew lacks instruction

10 Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
    but one who rebukes boldly makes peace.[a](A)
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 10.10 Gk: Heb but one with foolish lips will come to ruin

10 Whoever (A)winks the eye causes trouble,
    and a babbling fool will come to ruin.
11 (B)The mouth of the righteous is (C)a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked (D)conceals violence.

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13 On the lips of one who has understanding wisdom is found,
    but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.(A)
14 The wise lay up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

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13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but (A)a rod is for the back of him who (B)lacks sense.
14 The wise (C)lay up knowledge,
    but (D)the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

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13 On the lips of one who has understanding wisdom is found,
    but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.(A)
14 The wise lay up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

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13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but (A)a rod is for the back of him who (B)lacks sense.
14 The wise (C)lay up knowledge,
    but (D)the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

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13 A gossip goes about telling secrets,
    but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.(A)

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13 Whoever (A)goes about slandering reveals secrets,
    but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

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13 The evil are ensnared by the transgression of their lips,
    but the righteous escape from trouble.(A)
14 From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things,
    and manual labor has its reward.(B)

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13 An evil man is ensnared (A)by the transgression of his lips,[a]
    (B)but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14 From the fruit of his mouth (C)a man is satisfied with good,
    (D)and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:13 Or In the transgression of the lips, there is an evil snare

16 Fools show their anger at once,
    but the prudent ignore an insult.(A)
17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
    but a false witness speaks deceitfully.(B)
18 Rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(C)
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.(D)

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16 (A)The vexation of a fool is known at once,
    but the prudent ignores an insult.
17 (B)Whoever speaks[a] the truth gives honest evidence,
    but (C)a false witness utters deceit.
18 (D)There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings (E)healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but (F)a lying tongue is but for a moment.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:17 Hebrew breathes out

22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
    but those who act faithfully are his delight.(A)
23 One who is clever conceals knowledge,
    but the mind of a fool[a] broadcasts folly.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 12.23 Heb the heart of fools

22 (A)Lying lips are (B)an abomination to the Lord,
    (C)but those who act faithfully are his delight.
23 (D)A prudent man conceals knowledge,
    (E)but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

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25 Anxiety weighs down the human heart,
    but a good word cheers it up.(A)

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25 (A)Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,
    but a good word makes him glad.

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From the fruit of their words good persons eat good things,
    but the desire of the treacherous is for wrongdoing.
Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives;
    those who open wide their lips come to ruin.(A)

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From the fruit of his mouth a man (A)eats what is good,
    but the desire of the treacherous (B)is for violence.
(C)Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
    (D)he who opens wide his lips (E)comes to ruin.

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The talk of fools is a rod for their backs,[a]
    but the lips of the wise preserve them.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 14.3 Cn: Heb a rod of pride

By the mouth of a fool comes (A)a rod for his back,[a]
    (B)but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:3 Or In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride