15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous
but a terror to evildoers.(A)

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15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
    but terror to evildoers.(A)

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The one who sows injustice will reap disaster,(A)
and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

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Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,(A)
    and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.(B)

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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)

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Saying 2

22 Do not exploit the poor(A) because they are poor
    and do not crush the needy in court,(B)

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11 Rescue those being taken off to death,
and save those stumbling toward slaughter.(A)

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11 Rescue those being led away to death;
    hold back those staggering toward slaughter.(A)

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Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,(A)
and his throne will be established in righteousness.(B)

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remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,(A)
    and his throne will be established(B) through righteousness.(C)

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The evil do not understand justice,(A)
but those who seek the Lord understand everything.(B)

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Evildoers do not understand what is right,
    but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

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By justice a king brings stability to a land,(A)
but a person who demands “contributions”[a]
demolishes it.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 29:4 The Hb word for contributions usually refers to offerings in worship.

By justice a king gives a country stability,(A)
    but those who are greedy for[a] bribes tear it down.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:4 Or who give

26 Many desire a ruler’s favor,(A)
but a person receives justice from the Lord.(B)

27 An unjust person is detestable to the righteous,
and one whose way is upright
is detestable to the wicked.(C)

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26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,(A)
    but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.(B)

27 The righteous detest the dishonest;
    the wicked detest the upright.(C)

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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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Footnotes

  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

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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