The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.
1
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.
2
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3 God doesn't miss a thing - he's alert to good and evil alike.
3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.
4
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5 Moral dropouts won't listen to their elders; welcoming correction is a mark of good sense.
5
A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
6 The lives of God-loyal people flourish; a misspent life is soon bankrupt.
6
In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7 Perceptive words spread knowledge; fools are hollow - there's nothing to them.
7
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.
8 God can't stand pious poses, but he delights in genuine prayers.
8
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
9 A life frittered away disgusts God; he loves those who run straight for the finish line.
9
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves him who pursues righteousness.
10 It's a school of hard knocks for those who leave God's path, a dead-end street for those who hate God's rules.
10
There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die.
11 Even hell holds no secrets from God - do you think he can't read human hearts? Life Ascends to the Heights
11
Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD; how much more the hearts of the children of man!
12 Know-it-alls don't like being told what to do; they avoid the company of wise men and women.
12
A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.
13 A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.
13
A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.
14 An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth; fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies.
14
The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song.
15
All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16 A simple life in the Fear-of-God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.
16
Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 Better a bread crust shared in love than a slab of prime rib served in hate.
17
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
18 Hot tempers start fights; a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace.
18
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
19 The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers; the diligent walk down a smooth road.
19
The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.
20 Intelligent children make their parents proud; lazy students embarrass their parents.
20
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 The empty-headed treat life as a plaything; the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it.
21
Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.
22 Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed.
22
Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.
23 Congenial conversation - what a pleasure! The right word at the right time - beautiful!
23
To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!
24 Life ascends to the heights for the thoughtful - it's a clean about-face from descent into hell.
24
The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25 God smashes the pretensions of the arrogant; he stands with those who have no standing.
25
The LORD tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow's boundaries.
26 God can't stand evil scheming, but he puts words of grace and beauty on display.
26
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are pure.
27 A greedy and grasping person destroys community; those who refuse to exploit live and let live.
27
Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.
28 Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people; the wicked are sewers of abuse.
28
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 God keeps his distance from the wicked; he closely attends to the prayers of God-loyal people.
29
The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart, and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle.
30
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.
31 Listen to good advice if you want to live well, an honored guest among wise men and women.
31
The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.
32 An undisciplined, self-willed life is puny; an obedient, God-willed life is spacious.
32
Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
33 Fear-of-God is a school in skilled living - first you learn humility, then you experience glory.
33
The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
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 English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.