The Message Bible MSG
New Living Translation NLT
1 Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word.
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We can make our own plans, but the LORD gives the right answer.
2 Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; God probes for what is good.
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People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives.
3 Put God in charge of your work, then what you've planned will take place.
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Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.
4 God made everything with a place and purpose; even the wicked are included - but for judgment.
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The LORD has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster.
5 God can't stomach arrogance or pretense; believe me, he'll put those upstarts in their place.
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The LORD detests the proud; they will surely be punished.
6 Guilt is banished through love and truth; Fear-of-God deflects evil.
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Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin. By fearing the LORD, people avoid evil.
7 When God approves of your life, even your enemies will end up shaking your hand.
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When people’s lives please the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them.
8 Far better to be right and poor than to be wrong and rich.
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Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest.
9 We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it. It Pays to Take Life Seriously
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We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.
10 A good leader motivates, doesn't mislead, doesn't exploit.
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The king speaks with divine wisdom; he must never judge unfairly.
11 God cares about honesty in the workplace; your business is his business.
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The LORD demands accurate scales and balances; he sets the standards for fairness.
12 Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation.
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A king detests wrongdoing, for his rule is built on justice.
13 Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tell them the truth.
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The king is pleased with words from righteous lips; he loves those who speak honestly.
14 An intemperate leader wreaks havoc in lives; you're smart to stay clear of someone like that.
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The anger of the king is a deadly threat; the wise will try to appease it.
15 Good-tempered leaders invigorate lives; they're like spring rain and sunshine.
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When the king smiles, there is life; his favor refreshes like a spring rain.
16 Get wisdom - it's worth more than money; choose insight over income every time.
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How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver!
17 The road of right living bypasses evil; watch your step and save your life.
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The path of the virtuous leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe.
18 First pride, then the crash - the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.
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Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.
19 It's better to live humbly among the poor than to live it up among the rich and famous.
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Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud.
20 It pays to take life seriously; things work out when you trust in God.
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Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be joyful.
21 A wise person gets known for insight; gracious words add to one's reputation.
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The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive.
22 True intelligence is a spring of fresh water, while fools sweat it out the hard way.
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Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools.
23 They make a lot of sense, these wise folks; whenever they speak, their reputation increases.
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From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive.
24 Gracious speech is like clover honey - good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body.
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Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
25 There's a way that looks harmless enough; look again - it leads straight to hell.
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There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.
26 Appetite is an incentive to work; hunger makes you work all the harder.
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It is good for workers to have an appetite; an empty stomach drives them on.
27 Mean people spread mean gossip; their words smart and burn.
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Scoundrels create trouble; their words are a destructive blaze.
28 Troublemakers start fights; gossips break up friendships.
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A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.
29 Calloused climbers betray their very own friends; they'd stab their own grandmothers in the back.
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Violent people mislead their companions, leading them down a harmful path.
30 A shifty eye betrays an evil intention; a clenched jaw signals trouble ahead.
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With narrowed eyes, people plot evil; with a smirk, they plan their mischief.
31 Gray hair is a mark of distinction, the award for a God-loyal life.
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Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.
32 Moderation is better than muscle, self-control better than political power.
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Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.
33 Make your motions and cast your votes, but God has the final say.
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We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall.
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.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.