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27 Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again;
    tomorrow I will give it to you,”
    when you have it by you.
29 Don’t devise evil against your neighbor,
    since he dwells securely by you.
30 Don’t strive with a man without cause,
    if he has done you no harm.
31 Don’t envy the man of violence.
    Choose none of his ways.
32 For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh,
    but his friendship is with the upright.

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Treat Others Fairly

27 When it is in your power,[a]
don’t withhold good(A) from the one it belongs to.
28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go away! Come back later.
I’ll give it tomorrow”—when it is there with you.(B)
29 Don’t plan any harm against your neighbor,(C)
for he trusts you and lives near you.
30 Don’t accuse anyone without cause,(D)
when he has done you no harm.
31 Don’t envy a violent man(E)
or choose any of his ways;
32 for the devious are detestable to the Lord,
but He is a friend[b] to the upright.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 3:27 Lit in the power of your hands
  2. Proverbs 3:32 Or confidential counsel

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,
    but righteousness delivers from death.

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Ill-gotten gains do not profit anyone,
but righteousness rescues from death.(A)

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11 A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh,
    but accurate weights are his delight.

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11 Dishonest scales are detestable to the Lord,(A)
but an accurate weight is His delight.(B)

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He who guards his mouth guards his soul.
    One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

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The one who guards his mouth protects his life;(A)
the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.(B)

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11 Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away,
    but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

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11 Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle,(A)
but whoever earns it through labor[a] will multiply it.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:11 Lit whoever gathers upon [his] hand

He who walks in his uprightness fears Yahweh,
    but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.

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Whoever lives with integrity fears the Lord,(A)
but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.(B)

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A truthful witness will not lie,
    but a false witness pours out lies.

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An honest witness does not deceive,
but a dishonest witness utters lies.(A)

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27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
    but he who hates bribes will live.

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27 The one who profits dishonestly(A) troubles his household,
but the one who hates bribes will live.(B)

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By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for.
    By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.

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Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,(A)
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.(B)

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Better is a little with righteousness,
    than great revenues with injustice.

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Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice.(A)

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11 Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s;
    all the weights in the bag are his work.

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11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag[a] are His concern.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:11 Merchants kept the stones for their scales in a bag.

A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame,
    and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.

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A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and share an inheritance among brothers.

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