The Message Bible MSG
World English Bible WEB
1 God hates cheating in the marketplace; he loves it when business is aboveboard.
1
A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, But accurate weights are his delight.
2 The stuck-up fall flat on their faces, but down-to-earth people stand firm.
2
When pride comes, then comes shame, But with humility comes 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 shall guide them, But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst.
4
Riches don't 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.
5
The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, But the wicked shall fall 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 shall deliver them, But the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
7 When the wicked die, that's it - the story's over, end of hope.
7
When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, And expectation of power comes to nothing.
8 A good person is saved from much trouble; a bad person runs straight into it.
8
The righteous is delivered out of trouble, And the wicked takes his place.
9 The loose tongue of the godless spreads destruction; the common sense of the godly preserves them.
9
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
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. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 When right-living people bless the city, it flourishes; evil talk turns it into a ghost town in no time.
11
By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 Mean-spirited slander is heartless; quiet discretion accompanies good sense.
12
One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, But a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 A gadabout gossip can't be trusted with a secret, but someone of integrity won't violate a confidence.
13
One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, But one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
14 Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.
14
Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, But in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
15 Whoever makes deals with strangers is sure to get burned; if you keep a cool head, you'll avoid rash bargains.
15
He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, But he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
16 A woman of gentle grace gets respect, but men of rough violence grab for loot. A God-Shaped Life
16
A gracious woman obtains honor, But violent men obtain riches.
17 When you're kind to others, you help yourself; when you're cruel to others, you hurt yourself.
17
The merciful man does good to his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 Bad work gets paid with a bad check; good work gets solid pay.
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The wicked earns deceitful wages, But he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 Take your stand with God's loyal community and live, or chase after phantoms of evil and die.
19
He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.
20 God can't stand deceivers, but oh how he relishes integrity.
20
Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, But those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
21 Count on this: The wicked won't get off scot-free, and God's loyal people will triumph.
21
Most assuredly, the evil man will not be unpunished, But the seed 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 who lacks 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 is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
24
There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25 The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.
25
The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.
26 Curses on those who drive a hard bargain! Blessings on all who play fair and square!
26
He who withholds grain, the people will curse him, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 The one who seeks good finds delight; the student of evil becomes evil.
27
He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, But he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
28 A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.
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He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous shall flourish as the 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.
29
He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 A good life is a fruit-bearing tree; a violent life destroys souls.
30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.
31 If good people barely make it, what's in store for the bad!
31
Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the 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 World English Bible is in the public domain.