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10 My child, if sinners entice you,
    turn your back on them!
11 They may say, “Come and join us.
    Let’s hide and kill someone!
    Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!
12 Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave[a];
    let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.
13 Think of the great things we’ll get!
    We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.
14 Come, throw in your lot with us;
    we’ll all share the loot.”

15 My child, don’t go along with them!
    Stay far away from their paths.
16 They rush to commit evil deeds.
    They hurry to commit murder.
17 If a bird sees a trap being set,
    it knows to stay away.
18 But these people set an ambush for themselves;
    they are trying to get themselves killed.
19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;
    it robs them of life.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:12 Hebrew like Sheol.

10 If young toughs tell you, “Come and join us”—turn your back on them! 11 “We’ll hide and rob and kill,” they say. 12 “Good or bad, we’ll treat them all alike. 13 And the loot we’ll get! All kinds of stuff! 14 Come on, throw in your lot with us; we’ll split with you in equal shares.”

15 Don’t do it, son! Stay far from men like that, 16 for crime is their way of life, and murder is their specialty. 17 When a bird sees a trap being set, it stays away, 18 but not these men; they trap themselves! They lay a booby trap for their own lives. 19 Such is the fate of all who live by violence and murder.[a] They will die a violent death.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:19 all who live by violence and murder, literally, “all who are greedy of gain.”

29 Violent people mislead their companions,
    leading them down a harmful path.

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29 Wickedness loves company—and leads others into sin.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:29 Wickedness loves company—and leads others into sin, or “An evil man deceives his neighbor and leads him into loss.”

26 If the godly give in to the wicked,
    it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.

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26 If a godly man compromises with the wicked, it is like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.

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A stone is heavy and sand is weighty,
    but the resentment caused by a fool is even heavier.

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A rebel’s frustrations are heavier than sand and rocks.

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10 Those who lead good people along an evil path
    will fall into their own trap,
    but the honest will inherit good things.

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10 A curse on those who lead astray the godly. But men who encourage the upright to do good shall be given a worthwhile reward.

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