He stores up success[a] for the upright;
He is a shield for those who live with integrity(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:7 Or resourcefulness

He reserves ability for those with integrity.
    He is a shield for those who live a blameless life.

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Laziness

Go to the ant,(A) you slacker!(B)
Observe its ways and become wise.
Without leader, administrator, or ruler,
it prepares its provisions in summer;
it gathers its food during harvest.(C)

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Go to the ant, you lazy person;
    observe its ways and grow wise.
The ant has no commander, officer, or ruler.
    Even so, it gets its food in summer;
    gathers its provisions at harvest.

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12 I, wisdom, share a home with shrewdness
and have knowledge and discretion.(A)
13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil.(B)
I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct,
and perverse speech.
14 I possess good advice and sound wisdom;[a]
I have understanding and strength.(C)
15 It is by me that kings reign(D)
and rulers enact just law;
16 by me, princes lead,
as do nobles and all righteous judges.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 8:14 Or resourcefulness
  2. 8:16 Some Hb mss, LXX read nobles who judge the earth

12 I, Wisdom, dwell with prudence;
    I have found knowledge and discretion.
13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil.
    I hate pride and arrogance,
        the path of evil and corrupt speech.
14 I have advice and ability,
    as well as understanding and strength.
15 By me kings rule,
    and princes issue righteous decrees.
16 By me rulers govern,
    and officials judge righteously.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:16 Heb uncertain

The righteousness of the blameless clears his path,
but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.

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The righteousness of the innocent makes their path straight,
    but the wicked fall in their wickedness.

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23 The desire of the righteous turns out well,(A)
but the hope of the wicked leads to wrath.(B)

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23 The desires of the righteous end up well,
    but the expectations of the wicked bring wrath.

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24 The diligent hand will rule,
but laziness will lead to forced labor.(A)

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24 A hard worker is in charge,
    while a lazy one will be sentenced to hard labor.

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From the fruit of his mouth,
a person will enjoy good things,(A)
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.(B)

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People eat well from the fruit of their words,
    but the treacherous have an appetite only for violence.

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13 The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty,(A)
but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.(B)

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13 Trouble will come on those who despise a word,
    but those who respect the commandment will be rewarded.

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22 Plans fail when there is no counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.(A)

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22 Plans fail with no counsel,
    but with many counselors they succeed.

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Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.(A)

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Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will succeed.

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A person’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.(A)

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People plan their path,
    but the Lord secures their steps.

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12 Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,(A)
since a throne is established through righteousness.(B)

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12 Kings detest wicked deeds,
    for their thrones are founded on righteousness.

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