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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An insightful servant rules over a disgraceful son
    and will divide an inheritance
    with the brothers.

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

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Those who are lazy in their work
    are brothers to thugs.

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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

15 Laziness brings on deep sleep;
    a slacker goes hungry.

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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

24 Lazy people bury their hand in the bowl;
    they won’t even put it to their mouth.

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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

The lazy don’t plow during winter;
    at harvest they look but find nothing.

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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

13 Don’t love sleep or you will be poor;
    stay alert and you will have plenty to eat.

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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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The plans of the diligent end up in profit,
    but those who hurry end up with loss.

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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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17 Those who love pleasure end up poor;
    lovers of wine and oil won’t get rich.

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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

25 The desires of the lazy will kill them,
    because their hands refuse to do anything.
26 The lazy desire things constantly,
    but the righteous give without holding back.

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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

13 A lazy person says, “There’s a lion in the street!
    I’ll be killed in the town square!”

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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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29 Do you see people who work skillfully?
    They will work for kings
        but not work for lowly people.

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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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10 If you show yourself weak on a day of distress,
    your strength is too small.

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