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A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son
    and will share the inheritance of the master’s children.

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A wise slave will rule his master’s wicked sons and share their estate.

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A lazy person is as bad as
    someone who destroys things.

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A lazy man is brother to the saboteur.

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15 Lazy people sleep soundly,
    but idleness leaves them hungry.

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15 A lazy man sleeps soundly—and he goes hungry!

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24 Lazy people take food in their hand
    but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

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24 Some men are so lazy they won’t even feed themselves!

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Those too lazy to plow in the right season
    will have no food at the harvest.

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If you won’t plow in the cold, you won’t eat at the harvest.

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13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty.
    Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

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13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Stay awake, work hard, and there will be plenty to eat!

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Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,
    but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

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Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty.

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17 Those who love pleasure become poor;
    those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.

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17 A man who loves pleasure becomes poor; wine and luxury are not the way to riches!

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25 Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin,
    for their hands refuse to work.

26 Some people are always greedy for more,
    but the godly love to give!

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25-26 The lazy man longs for many things, but his hands refuse to work. He is greedy to get, while the godly love to give!

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13 The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there!
    If I go outside, I might be killed!”

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13 The lazy man is full of excuses. “I can’t go to work!” he says. “If I go outside, I might meet a lion in the street and be killed!”

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29 Do you see any truly competent workers?
    They will serve kings
    rather than working for ordinary people.

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29 Do you know a hard-working man? He shall be successful and stand before kings!

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10 If you fail under pressure,
    your strength is too small.

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10 You are a poor specimen if you can’t stand the pressure of adversity.

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