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

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The righteous house is itself[a] a great treasure,
    but within the revenue of the wicked calamity is at work.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:6 The Heb. lacks itself

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

17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened ox(B) with hatred.(C)

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On Contentment and Other Good Things of Life

16 Better is a little accompanied by fear of the Lord
    than abundant wealth with turmoil.
17 A vegetarian meal[a] served with love is better
    than a big, thick steak[b] with a plateful of[c] animosity.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:17 Lit. A meal of herbs
  2. Proverbs 15:17 Lit. a fattened ox
  3. Proverbs 15:17 The Heb. lacks a plateful of

20 The one who understands a matter finds success,(A)
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.(B)

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20 Whoever listens to a word of instruction prospers,
    and anyone who trusts in the Lord is blessed.

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11 The wealth of the rich is his fortified city;
in his imagination it is like a high wall.(A)

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11 The wealth of a rich person is his fortified city;
    in his own imagination, it is like a high wall.

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Wealth attracts many friends,(A)
but a poor person is separated from his friend.

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Wealth brings many friends,
    but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

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21 An inheritance gained prematurely
will not be blessed ultimately.(A)

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21 An inheritance quickly obtained at the beginning
    will not be blessed at the end.

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The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit,
but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.(A)

Making a fortune through a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist,[a] a pursuit of death.[b][c](B)

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Footnotes

  1. 21:6 Or a breath blown away
  2. 21:6 Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg read a snare of death
  3. 21:6 Lit is vanity, ones seeking death

Plans of the persistent surely lead to productivity,
    but all who are hasty will surely become poor.

A fortune gained by deceit[a]
    is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:6 Lit. by a lying tongue
  2. Proverbs 21:6 So MT; LXX reads is pursuing worthlessness into deadly snares

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

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The reward of humility is the fear of the Lord,
    along with wealth, honor, and life.

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The rich rule over the poor,(A)
and the borrower is a slave to the lender.(B)

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The wealthy rule over the poor,
    and anyone who borrows is a slave to the lender.

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16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself,
and giving to the rich—both lead only to poverty.(A)

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16 Whoever oppresses the poor to enrich himself
    and whoever gives gifts to the wealthy
        will yield only loss.

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Don’t wear yourself out to get rich;(A)
because you know better, stop!
As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears,(B)
for it makes wings for itself
and flies like an eagle to the sky.

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Don’t exhaust yourself acquiring wealth;
    be smart enough to stop.
When you fix your gaze on it, it’s gone,
    for it sprouts wings for itself
        and flies to the sky like an eagle.

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11 A rich person is wise in his own eyes,
but a poor one who has discernment sees through him.

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11 The rich man may be wise in his own opinion;
    but a discerning, poor man sees through him.

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