English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.
1
Lady Wisdom builds a lovely home; Sir Fool comes along and tears it down brick by brick.
2 Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways despises him.
2
An honest life shows respect for God; a degenerate life is a slap in his face.
3 By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
3
Frivolous talk provokes a derisive smile; wise speech evokes nothing but respect.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
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No cattle, no crops; a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow.
5 A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.
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A true witness never lies; a false witness makes a business of it.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
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Cynics look high and low for wisdom - and never find it; the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!
7 Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
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 prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.
8
The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track; the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.
9 Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.
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The stupid ridicule right and wrong, but a moral life is a favored life.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.
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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.
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Lives of careless wrongdoing are tumbledown shacks; holy living builds soaring cathedrals.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to 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 may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.
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Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak. Sift and Weigh Every Word
14 The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
14
A mean person gets paid back in meanness, a gracious person in grace.
15 The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
15
The gullible believe anything they're told; the prudent sift and weigh every word.
16 One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.
16
The wise watch their steps and avoid evil; fools are headstrong and reckless.
17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.
17
The hotheaded do things they'll later regret; the coldhearted get the cold shoulder.
18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent 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, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
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Eventually, evil will pay tribute to good; the wicked will respect God-loyal people.
20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.
20
An unlucky loser is shunned by all, but everyone loves a winner.
21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
21
It's criminal to ignore a neighbor in need, but compassion for the poor - what a blessing!
22 Do they not go astray who devise evil? Those who devise good meetsteadfast love and faithfulness.
22
Isn't it obvious that conspirators lose out, while the thoughtful win love and trust?
23 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.
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Hard work always pays off; mere talk puts no bread on the table.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly.
24
The wise accumulate wisdom; fools get stupider by the day.
25 A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.
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Souls are saved by truthful witness and betrayed by the spread of lies.
26 In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.
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The Fear-of-God builds up confidence, and makes a world safe for your children.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.
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The Fear-of-God is a spring of living water so you won't go off drinking from poisoned wells.
28 In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.
28
The mark of a good leader is loyal followers; leadership is nothing without a following.
29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
29
Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding; a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.
30 A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.
30
A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones.
31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous 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 is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his 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 rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.
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Lady Wisdom is at home in an understanding heart - fools never even get to say hello.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
34
God-devotion makes a country strong; God-avoidance leaves people weak.
35 A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
35
Diligent work gets a warm commendation; shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.
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.