13 The one who gives an answer before he listens—
this is foolishness and disgrace for him.(A)

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13 Spouting off before listening to the facts
    is both shameful and foolish.

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Even zeal is not good without knowledge,(A)
and the one who acts hastily[a] sins.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 19:2 Lit who is hasty with feet

Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good;
    haste makes mistakes.

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

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

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for it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here!”
than to demote you in plain view of a noble.[a](A)

Don’t take a matter to court hastily.(B)
Otherwise, what will you do afterward
if your opponent[b] humiliates you?

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Footnotes

  1. 25:7 Lit you before a noble whom your eyes see
  2. 25:8 Or neighbor, also in v. 9

It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head table
    than to be sent away in public disgrace.

Just because you’ve seen something,
    don’t be in a hurry to go to court.
For what will you do in the end
    if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat?

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20 A faithful person will have many blessings,(A)
but one in a hurry to get rich(B)
will not go unpunished.

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20 The trustworthy person will get a rich reward,
    but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble.

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22 A greedy one[a] is in a hurry for wealth;
he doesn’t know that poverty will come to him.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 28:22 Lit A man with an evil eye

22 Greedy people try to get rich quick
    but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty.

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20 Do you see someone who speaks too soon?(A)
There is more hope for a fool than for him.(B)

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20 There is more hope for a fool
    than for someone who speaks without thinking.

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