New Living Translation NLT
The Message Bible MSG
1 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother.
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Wise son, glad father; stupid son, sad mother.
2 Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life.
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Ill-gotten gain gets you nowhere; an honest life is immortal.
3 The LORD will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.
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God won't starve an honest soul, but he frustrates the appetites of the wicked.
4 Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.
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Sloth makes you poor; diligence brings wealth.
5 A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.
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Make hay while the sun shines - that's smart; go fishing during harvest - that's stupid.
6 The godly are showered with blessings; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.
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Blessings accrue on a good and honest life, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.
7 We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away.
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A good and honest life is a blessed memorial; a wicked life leaves a rotten stench.
8 The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.
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A wise heart takes orders; an empty head will come unglued.
9 People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.
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Honesty lives confident and carefree, but Shifty is sure to be exposed.
10 People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace.
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An evasive eye is a sign of trouble ahead, but an open, face-to-face meeting results in peace.
11 The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.
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The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.
12 Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.
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Hatred starts fights, but love pulls a quilt over the bickering.
13 Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding, but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.
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You'll find wisdom on the lips of a person of insight, but the shortsighted needs a slap in the face.
14 Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.
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The wise accumulate knowledge - a true treasure; know-it-alls talk too much - a sheer waste. The Road to Life Is a Disciplined Life
15 The wealth of the rich is their fortress; the poverty of the poor is their destruction.
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The wealth of the rich is their bastion; the poverty of the indigent is their ruin.
16 The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin.
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The wage of a good person is exuberant life; an evil person ends up with nothing but sin.
17 People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.
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The road to life is a disciplined life; ignore correction and you're lost for good.
18 Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool.
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Liars secretly hoard hatred; fools openly spread slander.
19 Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.
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The more talk, the less truth; the wise measure their words.
20 The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless.
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The speech of a good person is worth waiting for; the blabber of the wicked is worthless.
21 The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.
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The talk of a good person is rich fare for many, but chatterboxes die of an empty heart. Fear-of-God Expands Your Life
22 The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
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God's blessing makes life rich; nothing we do can improve on God.
23 Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.
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An empty-head thinks mischief is fun, but a mindful person relishes wisdom.
24 The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted.
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The nightmares of the wicked come true; what the good people desire, they get.
25 When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.
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When the storm is over, there's nothing left of the wicked; good people, firm on their rock foundation, aren't even fazed.
26 Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.
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A lazy employee will give you nothing but trouble; it's vinegar in the mouth, smoke in the eyes.
27 Fear of the LORD lengthens one’s life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
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The Fear-of-God expands your life; a wicked life is a puny life.
28 The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.
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The aspirations of good people end in celebration; the ambitions of bad people crash.
29 The way of the LORD is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked.
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God is solid backing to a well-lived life, but he calls into question a shabby performance.
30 The godly will never be disturbed, but the wicked will be removed from the land.
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Good people last - they can't be moved; the wicked are here today, gone tomorrow.
31 The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.
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A good person's mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom; a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp.
32 The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.
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The speech of a good person clears the air; the words of the wicked pollute it.