The Message Bible MSG
New International Version NIV
1 If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it - how shortsighted to refuse correction!
1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.
2 A good person basks in the delight of God, and he wants nothing to do with devious schemers.
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Good people obtain favor from the LORD, but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.
3 You can't find firm footing in a swamp, but life rooted in God stands firm.
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No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.
4 A hearty wife invigorates her husband, but a frigid woman is cancer in the 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 The thinking of principled people makes for justice; the plots of degenerates corrupt.
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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 kill; the speech of the upright saves.
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The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.
7 Wicked people fall to pieces - there's nothing to them; the homes of good people hold together.
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The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous stands firm.
8 A person who talks sense is honored; airheads are held in contempt.
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A person is praised according to their prudence, and one with a warped mind is despised.
9 Better to be ordinary and work for a living than act important and starve in the process.
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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 are good to their animals; the "good-hearted" bad people kick and abuse them.
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The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
11 The one who stays on the job has food on the table; the witless chase whims and fancies.
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Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.
12 What the wicked construct finally falls into ruin, while the roots of the righteous give life, and more life. Wise People Take Advice
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The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers, but the root of the righteous endures.
13 The gossip of bad people gets them in trouble; the conversation of good people keeps them out of it.
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Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble.
14 Well-spoken words bring satisfaction; well-done work has its own reward.
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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 Fools are headstrong and do what they like; wise people take advice.
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The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
16 Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly; the prudent quietly shrug off insults.
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Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.
17 Truthful witness by a good person clears the air, but liars lay down a smoke screen of deceit.
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An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies.
18 Rash language cuts and maims, but there is healing in the words of the wise.
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The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truth lasts; lies are here today, gone tomorrow.
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Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
20 Evil scheming distorts the schemer; peace-planning brings joy to the planner.
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Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.
21 No evil can overwhelm a good person, but the wicked have their hands full of it.
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No harm overtakes the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
22 God can't stomach liars; he loves the company of those who keep their word.
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The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.
23 Prudent people don't flaunt their knowledge; talkative fools broadcast their silliness.
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The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.
24 The diligent find freedom in their work; the lazy are oppressed by work.
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Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
25 Worry weighs us down; a cheerful word picks us up.
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Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
26 A good person survives misfortune, but a wicked life invites disaster.
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The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 A lazy life is an empty life, but "early to rise" gets the job done.
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The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.
28 Good men and women travel right into life; sin's detours take you straight to hell.
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In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.
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.