English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
1
Intelligent children listen to their parents; foolish children do their own thing.
2 From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
2
The good acquire a taste for helpful conversation; bullies push and shove their way through life.
3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
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Careful words make for a careful life; careless talk may ruin everything.
4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
4
Indolence wants it all and gets nothing; the energetic have something to show for their lives.
5 The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.
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A good person hates false talk; a bad person wallows in gibberish.
6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked.
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A God-loyal life keeps you on track; sin dumps the wicked in the ditch.
7 One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
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A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life.
8 The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat.
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The rich can be sued for everything they have, but the poor are free of such threats.
9 The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
9
The lives of good people are brightly lit streets; the lives of the wicked are dark alleys.
10 By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.
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Arrogant know-it-alls stir up discord, but wise men and women listen to each other's counsel.
11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
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Easy come, easy go, but steady diligence pays off.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
12
Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around.
13 Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.
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Ignore the Word and suffer; honor God's commands and grow rich.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.
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The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, so, no more drinking from death-tainted wells!
15 Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.
15
Sound thinking makes for gracious living, but liars walk a rough road.
16 In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.
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A commonsense person lives good sense; fools litter the country with silliness.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
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Irresponsible talk makes a real mess of things, but a reliable reporter is a healing presence.
18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.
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Refuse discipline and end up homeless; embrace correction and live an honored life.
19 A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
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Souls who follow their hearts thrive; fools bent on evil despise matters of soul.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
20
Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.
21 Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good.
21
Disaster entraps sinners, but God-loyal people get a good life.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.
22
A good life gets passed on to the grandchildren; ill-gotten wealth ends up with good people.
23 The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice.
23
Banks foreclose on the farms of the poor, or else the poor lose their shirts to crooked lawyers.
24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
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A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them.
25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.
25
An appetite for good brings much satisfaction, but the belly of the wicked always wants more.
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.