English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight.
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God hates cheating in the marketplace; he loves it when business is aboveboard.
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
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The stuck-up fall flat on their faces, but down-to-earth people stand firm.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
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The integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.
4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
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A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst.
5 The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
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Moral character makes for smooth traveling; an evil life is a hard life.
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.
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Good character is the best insurance; crooks get trapped in their sinful lust.
7 When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too.
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When the wicked die, that's it - the story's over, end of hope.
8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead.
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A good person is saved from much trouble; a bad person runs straight into it.
9 With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
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The loose tongue of the godless spreads destruction; the common sense of the godly preserves them.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
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When it goes well for good people, the whole town cheers; when it goes badly for bad people, the town celebrates.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.
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When right-living people bless the city, it flourishes; evil talk turns it into a ghost town in no time.
12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.
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Mean-spirited slander is heartless; quiet discretion accompanies good sense.
13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
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A gadabout gossip can't be trusted with a secret, but someone of integrity won't violate a confidence.
14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
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Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.
15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
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Whoever makes deals with strangers is sure to get burned; if you keep a cool head, you'll avoid rash bargains.
16 A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.
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A woman of gentle grace gets respect, but men of rough violence grab for loot. A God-Shaped Life
17 A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.
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When you're kind to others, you help yourself; when you're cruel to others, you hurt yourself.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
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Bad work gets paid with a bad check; good work gets solid pay.
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.
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Take your stand with God's loyal community and live, or chase after phantoms of evil and die.
20 Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight.
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God can't stand deceivers, but oh how he relishes integrity.
21 Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
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Count on this: The wicked won't get off scot-free, and God's loyal people will triumph.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.
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Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful face on an empty head.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
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The desires of good people lead straight to the best, but wicked ambition ends in angry frustration.
24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
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The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
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The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.
26 The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
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Curses on those who drive a hard bargain! Blessings on all who play fair and square!
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.
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The one who seeks good finds delight; the student of evil becomes evil.
28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
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A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.
29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
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Exploit or abuse your family, and end up with a fistful of air; common sense tells you it's a stupid way to live.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.
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A good life is a fruit-bearing tree; a violent life destroys souls.
31 If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
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If good people barely make it, what's in store for the bad!
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
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.