The Message Bible MSG
New Living Translation NLT
1 Intelligent children listen to their parents; foolish children do their own thing.
1
A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline; a mocker refuses to listen to correction.
2 The good acquire a taste for helpful conversation; bullies push and shove their way through life.
2
Wise words will win you a good meal, but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.
3 Careful words make for a careful life; careless talk may ruin everything.
3
Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.
4 Indolence wants it all and gets nothing; the energetic have something to show for their lives.
4
Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.
5 A good person hates false talk; a bad person wallows in gibberish.
5
The godly hate lies; the wicked cause shame and disgrace.
6 A God-loyal life keeps you on track; sin dumps the wicked in the ditch.
6
Godliness guards the path of the blameless, but the evil are misled by sin.
7 A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life.
7
Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor.
8 The rich can be sued for everything they have, but the poor are free of such threats.
8
The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened.
9 The lives of good people are brightly lit streets; the lives of the wicked are dark alleys.
9
The life of the godly is full of light and joy, but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.
10 Arrogant know-it-alls stir up discord, but wise men and women listen to each other's counsel.
10
Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.
11 Easy come, easy go, but steady diligence pays off.
11
Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.
12 Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around.
12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 Ignore the Word and suffer; honor God's commands and grow rich.
13
People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, so, no more drinking from death-tainted wells!
14
The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain; those who accept it avoid the snares of death.
15 Sound thinking makes for gracious living, but liars walk a rough road.
15
A person with good sense is respected; a treacherous person is headed for destruction.
16 A commonsense person lives good sense; fools litter the country with silliness.
16
Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.
17 Irresponsible talk makes a real mess of things, but a reliable reporter is a healing presence.
17
An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble, but a reliable messenger brings healing.
18 Refuse discipline and end up homeless; embrace correction and live an honored life.
18
If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored.
19 Souls who follow their hearts thrive; fools bent on evil despise matters of soul.
19
It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.
20 Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.
20
Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.
21 Disaster entraps sinners, but God-loyal people get a good life.
21
Trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous.
22 A good life gets passed on to the grandchildren; ill-gotten wealth ends up with good people.
22
Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.
23 Banks foreclose on the farms of the poor, or else the poor lose their shirts to crooked lawyers.
23
A poor person’s farm may produce much food, but injustice sweeps it all away.
24 A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them.
24
Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.
25 An appetite for good brings much satisfaction, but the belly of the wicked always wants more.
25
The godly eat to their hearts’ content, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.
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.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.