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27 A man of wickedness concocts evil,
    and his lips are like a scorching fire.
28 A person of perversity will spread dissent,
    and he who whispers separates a close friend.
29 A person of violence will entice his neighbor
    and cause him to walk on a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes does so in order to plan perverse things;
    he who purses his lips will bring evil to pass.

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27 A worthless person digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.(A)

28 A contrary person spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.(B)

29 A violent person lures his neighbor,(C)
leading him on a path that is not good.(D)

30 The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;
the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.(E)

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He who does evil listens to lips of wickedness,
    and the liar gives heed to the tongue of mischief.

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A wicked person listens to malicious talk;[a]
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

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Footnotes

  1. 17:4 Lit to lips of iniquity

He who forgives an affront fosters love,
    but he who waits on a matter will alienate a friend.

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Whoever conceals an offense promotes love,(A)
but whoever gossips about it separates friends.(B)

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19 He who loves transgression loves strife;
    he who builds his high thresholds seeks destruction.
20 He who is crooked of heart[a] will not find goodness,
    and he who is perverse, by his tongue he will fall into calamity.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:20 Or “mind”

19 One who loves to offend loves strife;(A)
one who builds a high threshold invites injury.

20 One with a twisted mind will not succeed,
and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.(B)

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24 He who understands sets his face toward wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool, to the end of the earth.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:24 Or “land”

24 Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive,
but a fool’s eyes(A) roam to the ends of the earth.

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18 He who is selfish seeks a craving;[a]
    against all sound judgment he shows contempt.
A fool will not take pleasure in understanding,
    but in expressing his heart.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:1 Or “boundary”
  2. Proverbs 18:2 Or “mind”

18 One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;
he rebels against all sound wisdom.

A fool does not delight in understanding,
but only wants to show off his opinions.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 18:2 Lit to uncover his heart

23 The poor may speak entreaties,
    but the rich will answer roughly.

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23 The poor person pleads,(A)
but the rich one answers roughly.(B)

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Wealth adds many friends,
    but the poor will be left by his friends.

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

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Many will seek favor before the generous,
    and everyone is the friend of a man of gifts.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:6 Hebrew “gift”

Many seek a ruler’s favor,(A)
and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.(B)

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Many a person will proclaim his loyalty for himself,
    but a man who is trustworthy, who can find?

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Many a person proclaims his own loyalty,
but who can find a trustworthy person?(A)

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A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    winnows all evil with his eyes.

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A king sitting on a throne to judge
separates out all evil with his eyes.(A)

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14 “Bad, bad,” the buyer will say,
    but when one goes to him, then he will boast.

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14 “It’s worthless, it’s worthless!” the buyer says,
but after he is on his way, he gloats.

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19 He reveals a secret, he who walks about with gossip,
    and do not associate with a babbler’s lips.

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19 The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;(A)
avoid someone with a big mouth.(B)

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