| The Message (MSG) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 God hates cheating in the marketplace; he loves it when business is aboveboard.
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1 The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.
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2 The stuck-up fall flat on their faces, but down-to-earth people stand firm.
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2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
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3 The integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.
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3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
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4 A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst.
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4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
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5 Moral character makes for smooth traveling; an evil life is a hard life.
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5 The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
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6 Good character is the best insurance; crooks get trapped in their sinful lust.
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6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
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7 When the wicked die, that's it - the story's over, end of hope.
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7 When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes to nothing.
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8 A good person is saved from much trouble; a bad person runs straight into it.
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8 The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead.
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9 The loose tongue of the godless spreads destruction; the common sense of the godly preserves them.
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9 With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape.
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10 When it goes well for good people, the whole town cheers; when it goes badly for bad people, the town celebrates.
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10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
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11 When right-living people bless the city, it flourishes; evil talk turns it into a ghost town in no time.
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11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
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12 Mean-spirited slander is heartless; quiet discretion accompanies good sense.
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12 A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.
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13 A gadabout gossip can't be trusted with a secret, but someone of integrity won't violate a confidence.
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13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.
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14 Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.
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14 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.
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15 Whoever makes deals with strangers is sure to get burned; if you keep a cool head, you'll avoid rash bargains.
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15 He who puts up security for another will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to strike hands in pledge is safe.
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16 A woman of gentle grace gets respect, but men of rough violence grab for loot. A God-Shaped Life
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16 A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
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17 When you're kind to others, you help yourself; when you're cruel to others, you hurt yourself.
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17 A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
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18 Bad work gets paid with a bad check; good work gets solid pay.
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18 The wicked man earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
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19 Take your stand with God's loyal community and live, or chase after phantoms of evil and die.
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19 The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death.
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20 God can't stand deceivers, but oh how he relishes integrity.
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20 The LORD detests men of perverse heart but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
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21 Count on this: The wicked won't get off scot-free, and God's loyal people will triumph.
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21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.
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22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful face on an empty head.
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22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
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23 The desires of good people lead straight to the best, but wicked ambition ends in angry frustration.
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23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
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24 The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
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24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
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25 The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.
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25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
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26 Curses on those who drive a hard bargain! Blessings on all who play fair and square!
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26 People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.
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27 The one who seeks good finds delight; the student of evil becomes evil.
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27 He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it.
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28 A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.
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28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
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29 Exploit or abuse your family, and end up with a fistful of air; common sense tells you it's a stupid way to live.
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29 He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.
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30 A good life is a fruit-bearing tree; a violent life destroys souls.
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30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
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31 If good people barely make it, what's in store for the bad!
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31 If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
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| Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved. (The Message Bible Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
