The Message Bible MSG
New International Version NIV
22 God's blessing makes life rich; nothing we do can improve on God.
22
The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it.
23 An empty-head thinks mischief is fun, but a mindful person relishes wisdom.
23
A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.
24 The nightmares of the wicked come true; what the good people desire, they get.
24
What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the righteous desire will be granted.
25 When the storm is over, there's nothing left of the wicked; good people, firm on their rock foundation, aren't even fazed.
25
When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.
26 A lazy employee will give you nothing but trouble; it's vinegar in the mouth, smoke in the eyes.
26
As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so are sluggards to those who send them.
27 The Fear-of-God expands your life; a wicked life is a puny life.
27
The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28 The aspirations of good people end in celebration; the ambitions of bad people crash.
28
The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
29 God is solid backing to a well-lived life, but he calls into question a shabby performance.
29
The way of the LORD is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.
30 Good people last - they can't be moved; the wicked are here today, gone tomorrow.
30
The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.
31 A good person's mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom; a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp.
31
From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced.
32 The speech of a good person clears the air; the words of the wicked pollute it.
32
The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.
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.
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.