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17 Happy are you, O land, whose king is of noble birth,
    and whose princes dine at the right time—
    for vigor[a] and not in drinking bouts.
18 Because of laziness, the rafters sag;
    when hands are slack, the house leaks.
19 A feast is made for merriment
    and wine gives joy to the living,
    but money answers[b] for everything.

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Footnotes

  1. 10:17 For vigor: or, “with self-control, restraint.”
  2. 10:19 Money answers: a stark reminder that such a life requires money. It could also be an affirmation of the power of wealth: “Money conquers all.”

17 Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth
    and whose princes eat at a proper time—
    for strength and not for drunkenness.(A)

18 Through laziness, the rafters sag;
    because of idle hands, the house leaks.(B)

19 A feast is made for laughter,
    wine(C) makes life merry,
    and money is the answer for everything.

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17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

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