The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 Lady Wisdom builds a lovely home; Sir Fool comes along and tears it down brick by brick.
1
Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
2 An honest life shows respect for God; a degenerate life is a slap in his face.
2
He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
3 Frivolous talk provokes a derisive smile; wise speech evokes nothing but respect.
3
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4 No cattle, no crops; a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow.
4
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A true witness never lies; a false witness makes a business of it.
5
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
6 Cynics look high and low for wisdom - and never find it; the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!
6
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
7 Escape quickly from the company of fools; they're a waste of your time, a waste of your words.
7
Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track; the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.
8
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 The stupid ridicule right and wrong, but a moral life is a favored life.
9
Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
10 The person who shuns the bitter moments of friends will be an outsider at their celebrations.
10
The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
11 Lives of careless wrongdoing are tumbledown shacks; holy living builds soaring cathedrals.
11
The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
12 There's a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again - it leads straight to hell.
12
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
13 Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak. Sift and Weigh Every Word
13
Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
14 A mean person gets paid back in meanness, a gracious person in grace.
14
The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
15 The gullible believe anything they're told; the prudent sift and weigh every word.
15
The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
16 The wise watch their steps and avoid evil; fools are headstrong and reckless.
16
A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
17 The hotheaded do things they'll later regret; the coldhearted get the cold shoulder.
17
He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion; wise realists plant their feet on the ground.
18
The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 Eventually, evil will pay tribute to good; the wicked will respect God-loyal people.
19
The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 An unlucky loser is shunned by all, but everyone loves a winner.
20
The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
21 It's criminal to ignore a neighbor in need, but compassion for the poor - what a blessing!
21
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
22 Isn't it obvious that conspirators lose out, while the thoughtful win love and trust?
22
Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
23 Hard work always pays off; mere talk puts no bread on the table.
23
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
24 The wise accumulate wisdom; fools get stupider by the day.
24
The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
25 Souls are saved by truthful witness and betrayed by the spread of lies.
25
A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
26 The Fear-of-God builds up confidence, and makes a world safe for your children.
26
In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 The Fear-of-God is a spring of living water so you won't go off drinking from poisoned wells.
27
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
28 The mark of a good leader is loyal followers; leadership is nothing without a following.
28
In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding; a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.
29
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
30 A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones.
30
A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
31 You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless; when you're kind to the poor, you honor God.
31
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
32 The evil of bad people leaves them out in the cold; the integrity of good people creates a safe place for living.
32
The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
33 Lady Wisdom is at home in an understanding heart - fools never even get to say hello.
33
Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
34 God-devotion makes a country strong; God-avoidance leaves people weak.
34
Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 Diligent work gets a warm commendation; shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.
35
The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
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.
The King James Version is in the public domain.