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–19–

24 Don't be jealous of crooks
    or want to be their friends.
All they think about
and talk about
    is violence and cruelty.

–20–

Use wisdom and understanding
    to establish your home;
let good sense fill the rooms
    with priceless treasures.

–21–

Wisdom brings strength,
    and knowledge gives power.
Battles are won
by listening to advice
    and making a lot of plans.

–22–

Wisdom is too much for fools!
    Their advice is no good.

–23–

No one but troublemakers
    think up trouble.
Everyone hates senseless fools
    who think up ways to sin.

–24–

10 Don't give up and be helpless
    in times of trouble.

–25–

11 Don't fail to rescue those
    who are doomed to die.
12 Don't say, “I didn't know it!”
    God can read your mind.
He watches each of us
    and knows our thoughts.
And God will pay us back
    for what we do.

–26–

13 Honey is good for you,
my children,
    and it tastes sweet.
14 Wisdom is like honey
    for your life—
if you find it,
    your future is bright.

–27–

15 Don't be a cruel person
who attacks good people
    and hurts their families.
16 Even if good people
fall seven times,
    they will get back up.
But when trouble strikes
the wicked,
    that's the end of them.

–28–

17 Don't be happy
to see your enemies trip
    and fall down.
18 The Lord will find out
    and be unhappy.
Then he will stop
    being angry with them.

–29–

19 Don't let evil people
worry you
    or make you jealous.
20 They will soon be gone
like the flame of a lamp
    that burns out.

–30–

21 My children, you must respect
    the Lord and the king,
and you must not make friends
with anyone who rebels
    against either of them.
22 Who knows what sudden disaster
the Lord or a ruler
    might bring?

More Sayings That Make Good Sense

23 Here are some more sayings
    that make good sense:
When you judge,
    you must be fair.
24 If you let the guilty
    go free,
people of all nations
    will hate and curse you.
25 But if you punish the guilty,
things will go well for you,
    and you will prosper.
26 Giving an honest answer
is a sign
    of true friendship.
27 Get your fields ready
and plant your crops
    before starting a home.
28 Don't accuse anyone
    who isn't guilty.
Don't ever tell a lie
29 or say to someone,
    “I'll get even with you!”

30 I once walked by the field
and the vineyard
    of a lazy fool.
31 Thorns and weeds
    were everywhere,
and the stone wall
    had fallen down.
32 When I saw this,
    it taught me a lesson:
33 (A) Sleep a little. Doze a little.
Fold your hands
    and twiddle your thumbs.
34 Suddenly poverty hits you
    and everything is gone!

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