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

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Footnotes

  1. 17:11 Or a merciless angel

11 A rebellious person seeks evil;
    a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him.

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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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19 The person who loves transgression loves strife;
    the person who builds a high gate invites destruction.

20 The person whose mind[a] is perverse does not find good,
    and anyone with perverted speech falls into trouble.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:20 Lit. heart

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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24 A person with understanding has wisdom as his objective,
    but a fool looks only[a] to earthly goals.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:24 The Heb. lacks only

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

How Fools Talk

18 Whoever isolates himself pursues selfish ends;
he resists all sound advice.

A fool finds no satisfaction in trying to understand,
    for he would rather express his own opinion.

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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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14 “This is bad, bad,” says whoever is buying—
    but then he brags as he walks away after the sale.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:14 The Heb. lacks after the sale

29 A wicked person puts on a bold face,(A)
but the upright one considers his way.

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29 The wicked man puts up a bold appearance,
    but the upright thinks about what he is doing.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:29 Lit. about his ways

10 Drive out a mocker,(A) and conflict goes too;
then quarreling and dishonor will cease.(B)

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10 Throw out the mocker and strife departs, too;[a]
    furthermore, quarrels[b] and discord will end.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:10 The Heb. lacks too
  2. Proverbs 22:10 Or litigation

The one who sows injustice will reap disaster,(A)
and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

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Whoever sows wickedness reaps trouble,
    and the anger he uses for a weapon[a] will be destroyed.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:8 Lit. rod

26 Don’t be one of those who enter agreements,[a]
who put up security for loans.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 22:26 Lit Don’t be among hand slappers

26 Don’t be one of those who make promises
    to guarantee loans for debts.

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23 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
consider carefully what[a] is before you,
and put a knife to your throat
if you have a big[b] appetite;
don’t desire his choice food,(A)
for that food is deceptive.

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Footnotes

  1. 23:1 Or who
  2. 23:2 Lit you are the master of an

Things to Avoid in Life

23 Whenever you sit down to dine with a ruler,
carefully think about what is before you.
Put a knife to your own throat,
    if you have a big appetite.[a]
Don’t crave his delicacies,
    because the meal is deceptive.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:2 Lit. a master of an appetite

Don’t eat a stingy person’s bread,[a](A)
and don’t desire his choice food,(B)
for it’s like someone calculating inwardly.[b](C)
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.(D)
You will vomit the little you’ve eaten
and waste your pleasant words.

Don’t speak to[c] a fool,
for he will despise the insight of your words.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 23:6 Lit eat bread of an evil eye
  2. 23:7 LXX reads it is like someone swallowing a hair in the throat
  3. 23:9 Lit in the ears of

Don’t consume food provided by a miserly[a] person,
    and don’t desire his delicacies,
for as he thinks within himself, so he is.
    “Eat and drink!” he’ll say to you,
        but his heart won’t be with you.
You’ll vomit up what little you’ve eaten,
    and your compliments will have been wasted.

Don’t speak when a fool is listening,
    because he’ll despise your wise words.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:6 Lit. by the evil eyed

The one who sends a message by a fool’s hand(A)
cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.(B)

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Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
    cuts off his own[a] feet and drinks violence.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:6 The Heb. lacks his own