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 find out knowledge and discretion.
13 (A)The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
(B)Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And (C)the perverse mouth I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, (D)I have strength.
15 (E)By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
All the judges of [a]the earth.
17 (F)I love those who love me,
And (G)those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 (H)Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 8:16 MT, Syr., Tg., Vg. righteousness; LXX, Bg., some mss. and editions 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 who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord,
But the blameless in their ways are 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 obtains favor from the Lord,
But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.

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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 an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal truthfully 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 (A)He who oppresses the poor reproaches (B)his Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

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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 the prayer of the upright is His delight.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But He loves him who (B)follows 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 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil,
As do stripes the [a]inner depths of the heart.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:30 Lit. rooms of the belly

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 (A)He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds 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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By humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches and honor and life.

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