12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.(A)
13 To fear the Lord(B) is to hate evil;(C)
    I hate(D) pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.(E)
15 By me kings reign
    and rulers(F) issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,(G)
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.[a]
17 I love those who love me,(H)
    and those who seek me find me.(I)
18 With me are riches and honor,(J)
    enduring wealth and prosperity.(K)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; other Hebrew manuscripts all righteous rulers

12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
    and I find knowledge and (A)discretion.
13 (B)The fear of the Lord is (C)hatred of evil.
(D)Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
    and (E)perverted speech I hate.
14 I have (F)counsel and (G)sound wisdom;
    I have insight; (H)I have strength.
15 By me (I)kings reign,
    and rulers decree what is just;
16 by me princes rule,
    and nobles, all who govern justly.[a]
17 (J)I love those who love me,
    and (K)those who seek me diligently find me.
18 (L)Riches and honor are with me,
    (M)enduring wealth and (N)righteousness.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint govern the earth

20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,(A)
    but he delights(B) in those whose ways are blameless.(C)

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20 Those of (A)crooked heart are (B)an abomination to the Lord,
    but those of (C)blameless ways are (D)his delight.

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Good people obtain favor from the Lord,(A)
    but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.(B)

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A good man (A)obtains favor from the Lord,
    but a man of evil devices he condemns.

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22 The Lord detests lying lips,(A)
    but he delights(B) in people who are trustworthy.(C)

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22 (A)Lying lips are (B)an abomination to the Lord,
    (C)but those who act faithfully are his delight.

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31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,(A)
    but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.(B)

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31 Whoever oppresses a poor man (A)insults his (B)Maker,
    (C)but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

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The Lord detests the sacrifice(A) of the wicked,(B)
    but the prayer of the upright pleases him.(C)

The Lord detests the way of the wicked,(D)
    but he loves those who pursue righteousness.(E)

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(A)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but (B)the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but he loves him (C)who pursues righteousness.

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30 Blows and wounds scrub(A) away evil,
    and beatings(B) purge the inmost being.

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30 (A)Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
    strokes make clean (B)the innermost parts.

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To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(A)

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(A)To do righteousness and justice
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

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21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love
    finds life, prosperity[a](A) and honor.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:21 Or righteousness

21 Whoever (A)pursues righteousness and kindness
    will find (B)life, righteousness, and honor.

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Humility is the fear of the Lord;
    its wages are riches and honor(A) and life.(B)

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The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
    is (A)riches and honor and life.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:4 Or The reward for humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and honor and life