New Living Translation NLT
The Message Bible MSG
1 The LORD detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights.
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God hates cheating in the marketplace; he loves it when business is aboveboard.
2 Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
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The stuck-up fall flat on their faces, but down-to-earth people stand firm.
3 Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.
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The integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.
4 Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you 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 godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.
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Moral character makes for smooth traveling; an evil life is a hard life.
6 The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them.
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Good character is the best insurance; crooks get trapped in their sinful lust.
7 When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength.
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When the wicked die, that's it - the story's over, end of hope.
8 The godly are rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.
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A good person is saved from much trouble; a bad person runs straight into it.
9 With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous.
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The loose tongue of the godless spreads destruction; the common sense of the godly preserves them.
10 The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy when the wicked die.
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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 Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.
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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 It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.
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Mean-spirited slander is heartless; quiet discretion accompanies good sense.
13 A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.
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A gadabout gossip can't be trusted with a secret, but someone of integrity won't violate a confidence.
14 Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.
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Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.
15 There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt; it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt.
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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 gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
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A woman of gentle grace gets respect, but men of rough violence grab for loot. A God-Shaped Life
17 Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you.
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When you're kind to others, you help yourself; when you're cruel to others, you hurt yourself.
18 Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last.
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Bad work gets paid with a bad check; good work gets solid pay.
19 Godly people find life; evil people find death.
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Take your stand with God's loyal community and live, or chase after phantoms of evil and die.
20 The LORD detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity.
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God can't stand deceivers, but oh how he relishes integrity.
21 Evil people will surely be punished, but the children of the godly will go free.
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Count on this: The wicked won't get off scot-free, and God's loyal people will triumph.
22 A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.
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Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful face on an empty head.
23 The godly can look forward to a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment.
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The desires of good people lead straight to the best, but wicked ambition ends in angry frustration.
24 Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.
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The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
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The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.
26 People curse those who hoard their grain, but they bless the one who sells in time of need.
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Curses on those who drive a hard bargain! Blessings on all who play fair and square!
27 If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!
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The one who seeks good finds delight; the student of evil becomes evil.
28 Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.
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A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.
29 Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind. The fool will be a servant to the wise.
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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 seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends.
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A good life is a fruit-bearing tree; a violent life destroys souls.
31 If the righteous are rewarded here on earth, what will happen to wicked sinners?
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If good people barely make it, what's in store for the bad!