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he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
    he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly,(A)

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He stores up sound wisdom for the upright
    and is a shield to those who walk in integrity—

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Go to the ant, you lazybones;
    consider its ways and be wise.(A)
Without having any chief
    or officer or ruler,
it prepares its food in summer
    and gathers its sustenance in harvest.(B)

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The Folly of Laziness

Go to the ant, you lazy man!
    Observe its ways and become wise.
It has no commander,
    officer, or ruler,
but prepares its provisions in the summer
    and gathers its food in the harvest.

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12 I, wisdom, live with prudence,
    and I attain knowledge and discretion.(A)
13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
    and perverted speech I hate.(B)
14 I have good advice and sound wisdom;
    I have insight; I have strength.(C)
15 By me kings reign,
    and rulers decree what is just;(D)
16 by me rulers rule,
    and nobles, all who govern rightly.

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The Way of Wisdom

12 “I, wisdom, am related to[a] prudence.
    I know how to be discreet.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.
    Pride, arrogance, an evil lifestyle,
        and perverted speech I despise.
14 Counsel belongs to me,
    along with sound judgment.
I am understanding.
    Power belongs to me.
15 Kings reign by me,
    and rulers dispense justice through me.
16 By me leaders rule, as do noble officials
    and all who govern justly.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:12 Lit. wisdom, live with
  2. Proverbs 8:16 So MT; LXX reads and tyrants rule the earth

The righteousness of the blameless keeps their ways straight,
    but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.

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The righteousness of the innocent creates a level path,
    but the wicked fall by their wickedness.

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23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

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23 The desire of the righteous is to seek good,
    but the hope of the wicked results in wrath.

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24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
    while the lazy will be put to forced labor.

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24 The diligent will take control,
    but the lazy will be put to forced labor.

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From the fruit of their words good persons eat good things,
    but the desire of the treacherous is for wrongdoing.

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From the fruit of his words a man receives benefit,[a]
    but the treacherous crave violence.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:2 Lit. man eats good things

13 Those who despise a word bring destruction on themselves,
    but those who respect a command will be rewarded.(A)

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13 Anyone who despises a word of advice will pay for it,
    but whoever heeds a command will be rewarded.

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22 Without counsel, plans go wrong,
    but with many advisers they succeed.(A)

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22 Plans fail without advice,
    but with many counselors they are confirmed.

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

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Entrust your work to the Lord,
    and your planning will succeed.

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The human mind plans the way,
    but the Lord directs the steps.(A)

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A person plans his way,
    but the Lord directs his steps.

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12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
    for the throne is established by righteousness.(A)

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12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for through righteousness the throne is established.

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