23 All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

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23 There is profit in all hard work,
but endless talk[a] leads only to poverty.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 14:23 Lit but word of lips

The house of the righteous contains great treasure,(A)
    but the income of the wicked brings ruin.(B)

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The house of the righteous has great wealth,
but trouble accompanies the income of the wicked.

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16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.(A)

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16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure with turmoil.(A)

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Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
    through the fear of the Lord(A) evil is avoided.(B)

When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
    he causes their enemies to make peace(C) with them.(D)

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Iniquity is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,(A)
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.(B)

When a person’s ways please the Lord,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.(C)

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26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
    their hunger drives them on.

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26 A worker’s appetite works for him
because his hunger[a] urges him on.

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Footnotes

  1. 16:26 Lit mouth

A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
    and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

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A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and share an inheritance among brothers.

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17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,(A)
    and he will reward them for what they have done.(B)

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17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord,(A)
and he will give a reward to the lender.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. 19:17 Lit to him

13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;(A)
    stay awake and you will have food to spare.

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13 Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor;
open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.(A)

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Humility is the fear of the Lord;
    its wages are riches and honor(A) and life.(B)

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Humility, the fear of the Lord,
results in wealth, honor, and life.(A)

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27 Put your outdoor work in order
    and get your fields ready;
    after that, build your house.

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27 Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field;(A)
afterward, build your house.

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18 The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,(A)
    and whoever protects their master will be honored.(B)

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18 Whoever tends a fig tree(A) will eat its fruit,(B)
and whoever looks after his master will be honored.

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23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,(A)
    give careful attention to your herds;
24 for riches do not endure forever,(B)
    and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears
    and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,
    and the goats with the price of a field.
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
    and to nourish your female servants.

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23 Know well the condition of your flock,(A)
and pay attention to your herds,
24 for wealth is not forever;(B)
not even a crown lasts for all time.
25 When hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grain from the hills is gathered in,
26 lambs will provide your clothing,
and goats, the price of a field;
27 there will be enough goat’s milk for your food—
food for your household
and nourishment for your female servants.(C)

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