(A)A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs (B)with discretion.

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Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,(A)
    who conduct their affairs with justice.

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21 The wicked borrows and does not repay,
But (A)the righteous shows mercy and gives.

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21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
    but the righteous give generously;(A)

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Walk in Wisdom

15 (A)See then that you walk [a]circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:15 carefully

15 Be very careful, then, how you live(A)—not as unwise but as wise,

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20 So you may walk in the way of goodness,
And keep to the paths of righteousness.

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20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
    and keep to the paths of the righteous.

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30 I went by the field of the lazy man,
And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
31 And there it was, (A)all overgrown with thorns;
Its surface was covered with nettles;
Its stone wall was broken down.
32 When I saw it, I considered it well;
I looked on it and received instruction:
33 (B)A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest;
34 (C)So shall your poverty come like [a]a prowler,
And your need like [b]an armed man.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 24:34 Lit. one who walks about
  2. Proverbs 24:34 Lit. a man with a shield

30 I went past the field of a sluggard,(A)
    past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
31 thorns had come up everywhere,
    the ground was covered with weeds,
    and the stone wall was in ruins.
32 I applied my heart to what I observed
    and learned a lesson from what I saw:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest(B)
34 and poverty will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.(C)

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11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

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11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,(A) serving the Lord.

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18 (A)A man devoid of [a]understanding [b]shakes hands in a pledge,
And becomes [c]surety for his friend.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:18 Lit. heart
  2. Proverbs 17:18 Lit. strikes the hands
  3. Proverbs 17:18 guaranty or collateral

18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
    and puts up security for a neighbor.(A)

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A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.

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Good people obtain favor from the Lord,(A)
    but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.(B)

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25 I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.
26 (A)He is [a]ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 37:26 Lit. all the day

25 I was young and now I am old,
    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken(A)
    or their children begging(B) bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;(C)
    their children will be a blessing.[a](D)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 37:26 Or freely; / the names of their children will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or freely; / others will see that their children are blessed

Generosity to the Poor

“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the [a]gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, (A)you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but (B)you shall [b]open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs. Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your (C)eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and (D)he cry out to the Lord against you, and (E)it become sin among you. 10 You shall surely give to him, and (F)your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because (G)for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 15:7 towns
  2. Deuteronomy 15:8 freely open

If anyone is poor(A) among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted(B) toward them. Rather, be openhanded(C) and freely lend them whatever they need. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts,(D) is near,” so that you do not show ill will(E) toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.(F) 10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart;(G) then because of this the Lord your God will bless(H) you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

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(A)Walk in (B)wisdom toward those who are outside, (C)redeeming the time.

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Be wise(A) in the way you act toward outsiders;(B) make the most of every opportunity.(C)

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And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

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And this is my prayer: that your love(A) may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,(B)

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For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

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Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.

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