Hebrew Names Version HNV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Every wise woman builds her house, But the 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 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, But he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
2
An honest life shows respect for God; a degenerate life is a slap in his face.
3 The fool's talk brings a rod to his back, But the lips of the wise protect them.
3
Frivolous talk provokes a derisive smile; wise speech evokes nothing but respect.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, But much increase is 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 truthful witness will not lie, But a false witness pours out lies.
5
A true witness never lies; a false witness makes a business of it.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn't find it, But knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
6
Cynics look high and low for wisdom - and never find it; the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!
7 Stay away from a foolish man, For you won't find knowledge on his lips.
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 think about his way, But the folly of fools is deceit.
8
The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track; the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.
9 Fools mock at making atonement for sins, 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 joy; He will not share these with a stranger.
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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 overthrown, 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 which seems right to a man, But in the end it leads 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 be sorrowful, And mirth may end in heaviness.
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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 unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; Likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
14
A mean person gets paid back in meanness, a gracious person in grace.
15 The simple believes everything, But the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
15
The gullible believe anything they're told; the prudent sift and weigh every word.
16 A wise man fears, and shuns evil, But the fool is hotheaded and reckless.
16
The wise watch their steps and avoid evil; fools are headstrong and reckless.
17 He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, And a crafty man 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, And 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 person is shunned even by his own neighbor, But the rich person has many friends.
20
An unlucky loser is shunned by all, but everyone loves a winner.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins, But blessed is he who has pity on the poor.
21
It's criminal to ignore a neighbor in need, but compassion for the poor - what a blessing!
22 Don't they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
22
Isn't it obvious that conspirators lose out, while the thoughtful win love and trust?
23 In all hard work there is profit, But the talk of the lips leads only to 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 crowns them with folly.
24
The wise accumulate wisdom; fools get stupider by the day.
25 A truthful witness saves souls, But a false witness is deceitful.
25
Souls are saved by truthful witness and betrayed by the spread of lies.
26 In the fear of the LORD is a secure fortress, And he will be a refuge for his children.
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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, Turning people 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 the multitude of people is the king's glory, But in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
28
The mark of a good leader is loyal followers; leadership is nothing without a following.
29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who has a quick temper displays folly.
29
Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding; a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.
30 The life of the body is a heart at shalom, But envy rots the bones.
30
A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for 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 is brought down in his calamity, But in death, the righteous has a refuge.
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 one who has understanding, And is even made known in the inward part 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 disgrace to any people.
34
God-devotion makes a country strong; God-avoidance leaves people weak.
35 The king's favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, But his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
35
Diligent work gets a warm commendation; shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.
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.