The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Message Bible MSG
1 Every wise woman builds up her home, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
1
Lady Wisdom builds a lovely home; Sir Fool comes along and tears it down brick by brick.
2 A person with upright conduct fears ADONAI, but a person who is devious scorns him.
2
An honest life shows respect for God; a degenerate life is a slap in his face.
3 From the mouth of a fool sprouts pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.
3
Frivolous talk provokes a derisive smile; wise speech evokes nothing but respect.
4 Where there are no oxen, the stalls are clean; but much is produced by the strength of an ox.
4
No cattle, no crops; a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow.
5 An honest witness will not lie, but a false witness lies with every breath.
5
A true witness never lies; a false witness makes a business of it.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge comes easily to someone with discernment.
6
Cynics look high and low for wisdom - and never find it; the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!
7 Keep clear of a fool, for you won't hear a sensible word from him.
7
Escape quickly from the company of fools; they're a waste of your time, a waste of your words.
8 The wisdom of the cautious makes him know where he is going, but the folly of fools misleads them.
8
The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track; the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.
9 Guilt offerings make a mockery of fools; but among the upright there is good will.
9
The stupid ridicule right and wrong, but a moral life is a favored life.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger can share its joy.
10
The person who shuns the bitter moments of friends will be an outsider at their celebrations.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
11
Lives of careless wrongdoing are tumbledown shacks; holy living builds soaring cathedrals.
12 There can be a way which seems right to a person, but at its end are the ways of death.
12
There's a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again - it leads straight to hell.
13 Even in laughter the heart can be sad, and joy may end in sorrow.
13
Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak. Sift and Weigh Every Word
14 A backslider is filled up with his own ways, but a good person gets satisfaction from himself.
14
A mean person gets paid back in meanness, a gracious person in grace.
15 One who doesn't think believes every word, but the cautious understands his steps.
15
The gullible believe anything they're told; the prudent sift and weigh every word.
16 A wise person fears and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and overconfident.
16
The wise watch their steps and avoid evil; fools are headstrong and reckless.
17 He who is quick-tempered does stupid things, and one who does vile things is hated.
17
The hotheaded do things they'll later regret; the coldhearted get the cold shoulder.
18 Thoughtless people inherit folly, but the cautious are crowned with knowledge.
18
Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion; wise realists plant their feet on the ground.
19 The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
19
Eventually, evil will pay tribute to good; the wicked will respect God-loyal people.
20 The poor are disliked even by their peers, but the rich have many friends.
20
An unlucky loser is shunned by all, but everyone loves a winner.
21 He who despises his fellow sins, but he who shows compassion to the humble is happy.
21
It's criminal to ignore a neighbor in need, but compassion for the poor - what a blessing!
22 Won't those who plot evil go astray? But grace and truth are for those who plan good.
22
Isn't it obvious that conspirators lose out, while the thoughtful win love and trust?
23 In all work there is profit, but mere talk produces only poverty.
23
Hard work always pays off; mere talk puts no bread on the table.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools is just that - folly.
24
The wise accumulate wisdom; fools get stupider by the day.
25 A truthful witness saves lives, but a liar misdirects [judgment].
25
Souls are saved by truthful witness and betrayed by the spread of lies.
26 In the fear of ADONAI is powerful security; for his children there will be a place of refuge.
26
The Fear-of-God builds up confidence, and makes a world safe for your children.
27 The fear of ADONAI is a fountain of life enabling one to avoid deadly traps.
27
The Fear-of-God is a spring of living water so you won't go off drinking from poisoned wells.
28 A king's glory lies in having many subjects; if the prince's people are few, it is his ruin.
28
The mark of a good leader is loyal followers; leadership is nothing without a following.
29 Being slow to anger goes with great understanding, being quick-tempered makes folly still worse.
29
Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding; a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.
30 A tranquil mind gives health to the body, but envy rots the bones.
30
A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones.
31 The oppressor of the poor insults his maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
31
You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless; when you're kind to the poor, you honor God.
32 The wicked are brought down by their wrongdoing, but the righteous can be confident even at death.
32
The evil of bad people leaves them out in the cold; the integrity of good people creates a safe place for living.
33 Wisdom is at rest in a person with discernment, but in fools it has to call attention to itself.
33
Lady Wisdom is at home in an understanding heart - fools never even get to say hello.
34 Righteousness makes a nation great, but sin degrades any people.
34
God-devotion makes a country strong; God-avoidance leaves people weak.
35 A king shows favor to a servant with good sense, but his wrath strikes one who shames [him].
35
Diligent work gets a warm commendation; shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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.