10 A rebuke cuts into a perceptive person
more than a hundred lashes into a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion;
a cruel messenger[a](A) will be sent against him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:11 Or a merciless angel

10 A rebuke is more effective with a man of understanding
    than a hundred lashes to a fool.
11 A rebellious person seeks evil;
    a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him.

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20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction
so that you may be wise later in life.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:20 Lit in your end

20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,
    and you’ll be wise for the rest of your life.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:20 The Heb. lacks of your life

27 If you stop listening to correction, my son,
you will stray from the words of knowledge.

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27 My son, if you stop listening to instruction,
    you will stray from the principles of knowledge.

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A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion;
anyone who provokes him endangers himself.(A)

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A king’s anger is like a lion’s roar;
    anyone who angers him forfeits his life.

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

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Many claim “I’m a loyal person!”[a]
    but who can find someone who truly is?

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:6 Lit. claim to be people of gracious love

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

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A king sits on a throne of justice,
    sifting out all sorts of evil with his glance.

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11 Even a young man is known by his actions—
if his behavior is pure and upright.(A)

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11 Even a child is known by his actions,
    whether his deeds are pure and right.

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30 Lashes and wounds purge away evil,(A)
and beatings cleanse the innermost parts.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:30 Lit beatings the chambers of the belly

30 Blows that wound clean away evil;
    such beatings cleanse[a] the innermost being.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:30 The Heb. lacks cleanse

21 A king’s heart is like streams of water in the Lord’s hand:
He directs it wherever He chooses.(A)

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Thoughts on the Sovereignty of God

21 A king’s heart is a water stream that the Lord controls;
he directs it wherever he pleases.

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11 The one who loves a pure heart
and gracious lips—the king is his friend.(A)

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11 Whoever loves purity[a] and gracious speech
    will gain the king as his friend.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:11 Lit. purity of heart

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter(A)
and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
As the heaven is high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated.

Remove impurities from silver,(B)
and a vessel will be produced[a] for a silversmith.(C)
Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,(D)
and his throne will be established in righteousness.(E)

Don’t brag about yourself before the king,
and don’t stand in the place of the great;
for it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here!”
than to demote you in plain view of a noble.[b](F)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:4 Lit will come out; Ex 32:24
  2. Proverbs 25:7 Lit you before a noble whom your eyes see

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
    and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
Just as the heavens are high
    and earth is deep,
        so the heart of a king is unfathomable.

Purge the dross from the silver,
    and material for[a] a vessel comes forth for the silversmith.
Purge the wicked from the king’s presence,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.

Don’t magnify yourself in the presence of a king,
    and don’t pretend to be in the company of famous men,
for it is better that it be told you, “Come up here,”
    than for you to be placed lower
        in the presence of an official.

What you’ve seen with your own eyes,

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:4 The Heb. lacks material for

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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18 Whoever nurtures the fig tree will eat its fruit,
    and whoever obeys[a] his master will be honored.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 27:18 Lit. guards