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Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
– Proverbs 22:29

[P]roverbs praises diligence and warns against laziness (Proverbs 10:4; 12:24). The word for diligent means ready, or skillful. Promotion is in view in terms of standing before kings as the reward of the diligent. Wisdom seeks promotion on merit, not bribery or empty talk (Proverbs 14:23; 28:19). Even the talk of the diligent differs from the talk of the lazy. The talk of the diligent is a wise plan executed successfully (Proverbs 21:5).

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