The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 A meal of bread and water in contented peace is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels.
1
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
2 A wise servant takes charge of an unruly child and is honored as one of the family.
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A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 As silver in a crucible and gold in a pan, so our lives are assayed by God.
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The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 Evil people relish malicious conversation; the ears of liars itch for dirty gossip.
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A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5 Whoever mocks poor people, insults their Creator; gloating over misfortune is a punishable crime.
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Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6 Old people are distinguished by grandchildren; children take pride in their parents.
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Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
7 We don't expect eloquence from fools, nor do we expect lies from our leaders.
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Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone; any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted.
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A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten on to a slight and - good-bye, friend!
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He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
10 A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense does more than a whack on the head of a fool.
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A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Criminals out looking for nothing but trouble won't have to wait long - they'll meet it coming and going!
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An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Better to meet a grizzly robbed of her cubs than a fool hellbent on folly.
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Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Those who return evil for good will meet their own evil returning.
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Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam, so stop it before it bursts.
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The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
15 Whitewashing bad people and throwing mud on good people are equally abhorrent to God.
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He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
16 What's this? Fools out shopping for wisdom! They wouldn't recognize it if they saw it! One Who Knows Much Says Little
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Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
17 Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.
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A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 It's stupid to try to get something for nothing, or run up huge bills you can never pay.
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A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 The person who courts sin, marries trouble; build a wall, invite a burglar.
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He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20 A bad motive can't achieve a good end; double-talk brings you double trouble.
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He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21 Having a fool for a child is misery; it's no fun being the parent of a dolt.
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He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.
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A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 The wicked take bribes under the table; they show nothing but contempt for justice.
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A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard; fools look for it everywhere but right here.
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Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 A surly, stupid child is sheer pain to a father, a bitter pill for a mother to swallow.
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A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
26 It's wrong to penalize good behavior, or make good citizens pay for the crimes of others.
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Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
27 The one who knows much says little; an understanding person remains calm.
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He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise; as long as they keep their mouths shut, they're smart.
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Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
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.