3
By the mouth of a fool comes 1a rod for his back, 2but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4
Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
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3A faithful witness does not lie, but 4a false witness breathes out lies.
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5A scoffer seeks wisdom 6in vain, but 7knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
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Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
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The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.
9
8Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.
10
The heart knows its own 9bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.
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10The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12
11There is a way that seems right to a man, but 12its end is the way to death.
13
Even in laughter the heart may ache, and 13the end of joy may be 14grief.
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The backslider in heart will be 15filled with the fruit of his ways, and 16a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
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17The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
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18One who is wise is cautious and 19turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.
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A man of 20quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.
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The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19
21The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20
22The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, 23but the rich has many friends.
21
Whoever 24despises his neighbor is a sinner, but 25blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22
Do they not go astray who 26devise evil? Those who devise good meet27steadfast love and faithfulness.
23
In all toil there is profit, but mere talk 28tends only to poverty.
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The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly.
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A truthful witness saves lives, but one who 29breathes out lies is deceitful.
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In the fear of the LORD one has 30strong confidence, and 31his children will have 32a refuge.
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The fear of the LORD is 33a fountain of life, that one may 34turn away from the snares of death.
28
In 35a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.
29
Whoever is 36slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30
A tranquil heart gives 37life to the flesh, but 38envy makes 39the bones rot.
31
Whoever oppresses a poor man 40insults his 41Maker, 42but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
32
43The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but 44the righteous finds refuge in his death.
33
Wisdom 45rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.
34
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
35
A servant who deals wisely has 46the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.