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10 An employer who hires a fool or a bystander
    is like an archer who shoots at random.

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10 Like an archer who wounds someone randomly,
    so is one who hires a fool or a passerby.

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24 People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,
    but they’re deceiving you.
25 They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.
    Their hearts are full of many evils.[a]
26 While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,
    their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.

27 If you set a trap for others,
    you will get caught in it yourself.
If you roll a boulder down on others,
    it will crush you instead.

28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
    and flattering words cause ruin.

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Footnotes

  1. 26:25 Hebrew seven evils.

24 Hateful people mislead with their lips,
    keeping their deception within.
25 Though they speak graciously, don’t believe them,
    for seven horrible things are in their heart.
26 They may cover their hatred with trickery,
    but their evil will be revealed in public.
27 Those who dig a pit will fall in it;
    those who roll a stone will have it turn back on them.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes;
    a flattering mouth causes destruction.

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Wounds from a sincere friend
    are better than many kisses from an enemy.

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Trustworthy are the bruises of a friend;
    excessive are the kisses of an enemy.

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To flatter friends
    is to lay a trap for their feet.

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People who flatter their friends
    spread out a net for their feet.

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