The Message Bible MSG
World English Bible WEB
1 Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word.
1
The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
2 Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; God probes for what is good.
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All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Yahweh weighs the motives.
3 Put God in charge of your work, then what you've planned will take place.
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Commit your deeds to Yahweh, And your plans shall succeed.
4 God made everything with a place and purpose; even the wicked are included - but for judgment.
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Yahweh has made everything for its own end -- Yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 God can't stomach arrogance or pretense; believe me, he'll put those upstarts in their place.
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Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh: They shall assuredly not be unpunished.
6 Guilt is banished through love and truth; Fear-of-God deflects evil.
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By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.
7 When God approves of your life, even your enemies will end up shaking your hand.
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When a man's ways please Yahweh, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Far better to be right and poor than to be wrong and rich.
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Better is a little with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice.
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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A man's heart plans his course, But Yahweh directs his steps.
10 A good leader motivates, doesn't mislead, doesn't exploit.
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Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. His shall not betray his mouth.
11 God cares about honesty in the workplace; your business is his business.
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Honest balances and scales are Yahweh's; All the weights in the bag are his work.
12 Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation.
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It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, For the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tell them the truth.
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Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.
14 An intemperate leader wreaks havoc in lives; you're smart to stay clear of someone like that.
14
The king's wrath is a messenger of death, But a wise man will pacify it.
15 Good-tempered leaders invigorate lives; they're like spring rain and sunshine.
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In the light of the king's face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
16 Get wisdom - it's worth more than money; choose insight over income every time.
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How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 The road of right living bypasses evil; watch your step and save your life.
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The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18 First pride, then the crash - the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.
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Pride goes before destruction, A haughty spirit 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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It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the plunder with the proud.
20 It pays to take life seriously; things work out when you trust in God.
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He who gives heed to the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.
21 A wise person gets known for insight; gracious words add to one's reputation.
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The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
22 True intelligence is a spring of fresh water, while fools sweat it out the hard way.
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Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, But the punishment of fools is their folly.
23 They make a lot of sense, these wise folks; whenever they speak, their reputation increases.
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The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, And adds learning to his lips.
24 Gracious speech is like clover honey - good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body.
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Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 There's a way that looks harmless enough; look again - it leads straight to hell.
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There is a way which seems right to a man, But in the end it leads to death.
26 Appetite is an incentive to work; hunger makes you work all the harder.
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The appetite of the laboring man labors for him; For his mouth urges him on.
27 Mean people spread mean gossip; their words smart and burn.
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A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
28 Troublemakers start fights; gossips break up friendships.
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A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
29 Calloused climbers betray their very own friends; they'd stab their own grandmothers in the back.
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A man of violence entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 A shifty eye betrays an evil intention; a clenched jaw signals trouble ahead.
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One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, One who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
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 attained by a life of righteousness.
32 Moderation is better than muscle, self-control better than political power.
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One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; One who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
33 Make your motions and cast your votes, but God has the final say.
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The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from Yahweh.
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 World English Bible is in the public domain.