Dual Panel—19—
1Don't be jealous of crooks or want to be their friends.
2All they think about and talk about is violence and cruelty.
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3 Use wisdom and understanding to establish your home;
4let good sense fill the rooms with priceless treasures.
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5 Wisdom brings strength, and knowledge gives power.
6Battles are won by listening to advice and making a lot of plans.
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7 Wisdom is too much for fools! Their advice is no good.
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8 No one but troublemakers think up trouble.
9Everyone hates senseless fools who think up ways to sin.
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10 Don't give up and be helpless in times of trouble.
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11 Don't fail to rescue those who are doomed to die.
12Don'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.
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13 Honey is good for you, my children, and it tastes sweet.
14Wisdom is like honey for your life— if you find it, your future is bright.
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15 Don't be a cruel person who attacks good people and hurts their families.
16Even if good people fall seven times, they will get back up. But when trouble strikes the wicked, that's the end of them.
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17 Don't be happy to see your enemies trip and fall down.
18The Lord will find out and be unhappy. Then he will stop being angry with them.
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19 Don't let evil people worry you or make you jealous.
20They will soon be gone like the flame of a lamp that burns out.
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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.
22Who 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.
24If you let the guilty go free, people of all nations will hate and curse you.
25But if you punish the guilty, things will go well for you, and you will prosper.
26Giving an honest answer is a sign of true friendship.
27Get your fields ready and plant your crops before setting up home.
28Don't accuse anyone who isn't guilty. Don't ever tell a lie
29or say to someone, “I'll get even with you!”
30I once walked by the field and the vineyard of a lazy fool.
31Thorns and weeds were everywhere, and the stone wall had fallen down.
32When I saw this, it taught me a lesson:
33Sleep a little. Doze a little. Fold your hands and twiddle your thumbs.
34Suddenly poverty hits you and everything is gone!