Good News Translation GNT
New International Version NIV
1 Any who love knowledge want to be told when they are wrong. It is stupid to hate being corrected.
1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.
2 The Lord is pleased with good people, but condemns those who plan evil.
2
Good people obtain favor from the LORD, but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.
3 Wickedness does not give security, but righteous people stand firm.
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No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.
4 A good wife is her husband's pride and joy; but a wife who brings shame on her husband is like a cancer in his bones.
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A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
5 Honest people will treat you fairly; the wicked only want to deceive you.
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The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked are murderous, but the words of the righteous rescue those who are threatened.
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The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.
7 The wicked meet their downfall and leave no descendants, but the families of the righteous live on.
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The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous stands firm.
8 If you are intelligent, you will be praised; if you are stupid, people will look down on you.
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A person is praised according to their prudence, and one with a warped mind is despised.
9 It is better to be an ordinary person working for a living than to play the part of someone great but go hungry.
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Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food.
10 Good people take care of their animals, but wicked people are cruel to theirs.
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The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
11 A hard-working farmer has plenty to eat, but it is stupid to waste time on useless projects.
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Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.
12 All that wicked people want is to find evil things to do, but the righteous stand firm.
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The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers, but the root of the righteous endures.
13 The wicked are trapped by their own words, but honest people get themselves out of trouble.
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Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble.
14 Your reward depends on what you say and what you do; you will get what you deserve.
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From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.
15 Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice.
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The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
16 When a fool is annoyed, he quickly lets it be known. Smart people will ignore an insult.
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Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.
17 When you tell the truth, justice is done, but lies lead to injustice.
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An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies.
18 Thoughtless words can wound as deeply as any sword, but wisely spoken words can heal.
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The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 A lie has a short life, but truth lives on forever.
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Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
20 Those who plan evil are in for a rude surprise, but those who work for good will find happiness.
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Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.
21 Nothing bad happens to righteous people, but the wicked have nothing but trouble.
21
No harm overtakes the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
22 The Lord hates liars, but is pleased with those who keep their word.
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The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.
23 Smart people keep quiet about what they know, but stupid people advertise their ignorance.
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The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.
24 Hard work will give you power; being lazy will make you a slave.
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Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
25 Worry can rob you of happiness, but kind words will cheer you up.
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Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
26 The righteous person is a guide to his friend, but the path of the wicked leads them astray.
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The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 If you are lazy, you will never get what you are after, but if you work hard, you will get a fortune.
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The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.
28 Righteousness is the road to life; wickedness is the road to death.
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In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.