1
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Do not envy wicked men or desire their company; |
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2
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for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble. |
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3
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By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established; |
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4
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through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure. |
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5
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A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength. |
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6
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Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors. |
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7
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Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the meeting place. |
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8
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He who plots evil will be called a schemer. |
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9
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A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men. |
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10
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If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength! |
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11
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Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter. |
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12
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If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds? |
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13
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Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste. |
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14
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Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off. |
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15
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Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, near the dwelling of the righteous; do not destroy his resting place. |
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16
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For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times. |
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17
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Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, |
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18
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or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him. |
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19
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Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked. |
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20
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For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished. |
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21
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My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious. |
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22
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For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring? |
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23
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These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good. |
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24
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Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”—peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him; |
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25
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but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them. |
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26
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An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips. |
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27
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Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house. |
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28
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Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. |
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29
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Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.” |
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30
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I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment. |
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31
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Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down. |
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32
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I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction: |
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33
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A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, |
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34
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and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit. |
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