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