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

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A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.

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The one who is lazy in his work
is brother to a vandal.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 18:9 Lit master of destruction

He also who is (A)lax in his work
(B)Is a brother to him who destroys.

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15 Laziness induces deep sleep,
and a lazy person will go hungry.(A)

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15 (A)Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And [a]a lazy [b]person will suffer hunger.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:15 Lit an idle
  2. Proverbs 19:15 Lit soul

24 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth!(A)

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24 The [a](A)lazy one buries his hand (B)in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:24 Lit idle person

The slacker does not plow during planting season;[a]
at harvest time he looks,[b] and there is nothing.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 20:4 Lit plow in winter
  2. 20:4 Lit inquires

The [a](A)lazy one does not plow after the autumn,
So he [b]begs during the harvest and has nothing.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:4 Lit idle
  2. Proverbs 20:4 Lit asks

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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13 (A)Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with [a]food.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:13 Lit bread

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

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The plans of the (A)diligent certainly lead to advantage,
But everyone (B)who is in a hurry certainly comes to poverty.

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17 The one who loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich.(A)

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17 One who (A)loves pleasure will become a poor person;
One who loves wine and oil will not become rich.

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25 A slacker’s craving will kill him
because his hands refuse to work.(A)
26 He is filled with craving[a] all day long,
but the righteous give and don’t hold back.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 21:26 Lit He craves a craving

25 The (A)desire of the [a]lazy one puts him to death,
For his hands refuse to work;
26 All day long he [b]is craving,
While the righteous (B)gives and does not hold back.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:25 Lit idle
  2. Proverbs 21:26 Lit desires desire

13 The slacker says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed in the public square!” (A)

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13 The [a](A)lazy one says, “There is a lion outside;
I will be killed in the streets!”

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:13 Lit idle

29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?
He will stand in the presence of kings.
He will not stand in the presence of the unknown.(A)

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29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?
He will (A)stand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure people.

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10 If you do nothing in a difficult time,
your strength is limited.

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10 If you (A)show yourself lacking courage on the day of distress,
Your strength is meager.

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