A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
    they think success will come at every turn.(A)

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A bribe(A) seems like a magic stone to its owner;
wherever he turns, he succeeds.(B)

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23 The wicked accept bribes(A) in secret
    to pervert the course of justice.(B)

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23 A wicked person secretly takes a bribe(A)
to subvert the course of justice.(B)

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21 An inheritance claimed too soon
    will not be blessed at the end.

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21 An inheritance gained prematurely
will not be blessed ultimately.(A)

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To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(A)

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Doing what is righteous and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(A)

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A fortune made by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[a](A)

The violence of the wicked will drag them away,(B)
    for they refuse to do what is right.

The way of the guilty is devious,(C)
    but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

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Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death

Making a fortune through a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist,[a] a pursuit of death.[b][c](A)

The violence of the wicked sweeps them away
because they refuse to act justly.

A guilty one’s conduct is crooked,(B)
but the behavior of the innocent is upright.(C)

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Notas al pie

  1. 21:6 Or a breath blown away
  2. 21:6 Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg read a snare of death
  3. 21:6 Lit is vanity, ones seeking death

Saying 2

22 Do not exploit the poor(A) because they are poor
    and do not crush the needy in court,(B)
23 for the Lord will take up their case(C)
    and will exact life for life.(D)

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22 Don’t rob a poor person because he is poor,
and don’t crush the oppressed(A) at the city gate,(B)
23 for the Lord will champion their cause(C)
and will plunder those who plunder them.

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Further Sayings of the Wise

23 These also are sayings of the wise:(A)

To show partiality(B) in judging is not good:(C)
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”(D)
    will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
    and rich blessing will come on them.

26 An honest answer
    is like a kiss on the lips.

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23 These sayings also belong to the wise:(A)
It is not good to show partiality in judgment.(B)
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent”(C)
peoples will curse him,(D) and nations will denounce him;
25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and a generous blessing will come to them.

26 He who gives an honest answer
gives a kiss on the lips.

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A ruler[a] who oppresses the poor
    is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

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Notas al pie

  1. Proverbs 28:3 Or A poor person

A destitute leader[a] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no food.(A)

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Notas al pie

  1. 28:3 LXX reads A wicked man

Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than the rich whose ways are perverse.(A)

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Better the poor person who lives with integrity(A)
than the rich one who distorts right and wrong.[a](B)

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Notas al pie

  1. 28:6 Lit who twists two ways

Whoever increases wealth by taking interest(A) or profit from the poor
    amasses it for another,(B) who will be kind to the poor.(C)

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Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest(A)
collects it for one who is kind to the poor.(B)

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Speak(A) up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.(B)

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Speak up[a] for those who have no voice,[b](A)
for the justice of all who are dispossessed.[c]
Speak up, judge righteously,(B)
and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.(C)

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Notas al pie

  1. 31:8 Lit Open your mouth, also in v. 9
  2. 31:8 Lit who are mute
  3. 31:8 Lit all the sons of passing away