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16 The labor of the just leads to life,
    the gains of the wicked, to futility.[a](A)
17 Whoever follows instruction is in the path to life,
    but whoever disregards reproof goes astray.(B)
18 Whoever conceals hatred has lying lips,
    and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

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Footnotes

  1. 10:16 Wages are a metaphor for reward and punishment. The Hebrew word does not mean “sin” here but falling short, a meaning that is frequent in Proverbs. Cf. Rom 6:1: “But what profit did you get then from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.”

16 The wages of the righteous is life,(A)
    but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.(B)

17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,(C)
    but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips(D)
    and spreads slander is a fool.

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