The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Message Bible MSG
1 Better a dry piece of bread with calm than a house full of food but also full of strife.
1
A meal of bread and water in contented peace is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels.
2 An intelligent slave will rule a shameful son and share the inheritance with the brothers.
2
A wise servant takes charge of an unruly child and is honored as one of the family.
3 The crucible [tests] silver, and the furnace [tests] gold, but the one who tests hearts is ADONAI.
3
As silver in a crucible and gold in a pan, so our lives are assayed by God.
4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips; a liar listens to destructive talk.
4
Evil people relish malicious conversation; the ears of liars itch for dirty gossip.
5 He who mocks the poor insults his maker; he who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.
5
Whoever mocks poor people, insults their Creator; gloating over misfortune is a punishable crime.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, while the glory of children is their ancestors.
6
Old people are distinguished by grandchildren; children take pride in their parents.
7 Fine speech is unbecoming to a boor, and even less lying lips to a leader.
7
We don't expect eloquence from fools, nor do we expect lies from our leaders.
8 A bribe works like a charm, in the view of him who gives it -wherever it turns, it succeeds.
8
Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone; any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted.
9 He who conceals an offense promotes love, but he who harps on it can separate even close friends.
9
Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten on to a slight and - good-bye, friend!
10 A rebuke makes more impression on a person of understanding than a hundred blows on a fool.
10
A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense does more than a whack on the head of a fool.
11 An evil person seeks only rebellion, but a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
11
Criminals out looking for nothing but trouble won't have to wait long - they'll meet it coming and going!
12 Rather meet a bear robbed of its cubs than encounter a fool in his folly.
12
Better to meet a grizzly robbed of her cubs than a fool hellbent on folly.
13 Evil will not depart from the house of him who returns evil for good.
13
Those who return evil for good will meet their own evil returning.
14 Starting a fight is like letting water through [a dike] -better stop the quarrel before it gets worse.
14
The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam, so stop it before it bursts.
15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous -both alike are an abomination to ADONAI.
15
Whitewashing bad people and throwing mud on good people are equally abhorrent to God.
16 Why would a fool wish to pay for wisdom when he has no desire to learn?
16
What's this? Fools out shopping for wisdom! They wouldn't recognize it if they saw it! One Who Knows Much Says Little
17 A friend shows his friendship at all times -it is for adversity that [such] a brother is born.
17
Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.
18 He who gives his hand to guarantee a loan for his neighbor lacks good sense.
18
It's stupid to try to get something for nothing, or run up huge bills you can never pay.
19 Those who love quarreling love giving offense; those who make their gates tall are courting disaster.
19
The person who courts sin, marries trouble; build a wall, invite a burglar.
20 A crooked-hearted person will find nothing good, and the perverse of speech will end in calamity.
20
A bad motive can't achieve a good end; double-talk brings you double trouble.
21 He who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow, and the father of a boor has no joy.
21
Having a fool for a child is misery; it's no fun being the parent of a dolt.
22 A happy heart is good medicine, but low spirits sap one's strength.
22
A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.
23 From under a cloak a bad man takes a bribe to pervert the course of justice.
23
The wicked take bribes under the table; they show nothing but contempt for justice.
24 The discerning person focuses on wisdom there before him, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
24
The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard; fools look for it everywhere but right here.
25 A son who is a fool means anger for his father and bitterness for the mother who gave him birth.
25
A surly, stupid child is sheer pain to a father, a bitter pill for a mother to swallow.
26 To punish the innocent is not right, likewise to flog noble people for their uprightness.
26
It's wrong to penalize good behavior, or make good citizens pay for the crimes of others.
27 A knowledgeable person controls his tongue; a discerning person controls his temper.
27
The one who knows much says little; an understanding person remains calm.
28 Even a fool, if he stays silent, is thought wise; he who keeps his mouth shut can pass for smart.
28
Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise; as long as they keep their mouths shut, they're smart.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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.