Common English Bible CEB
The Message Bible MSG
1 Better to be poor and walk in innocence than to have dishonest lips and be a fool.
1
Better to be poor and honest than a rich person no one can trust.
2 Ignorant desire isn't good; rushing feet make mistakes.
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Ignorant zeal is worthless; haste makes waste.
3 People's own folly corrupts their way, but their hearts rage against the LORD.
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People ruin their lives by their own stupidity, so why does God always get blamed?
4 Riches increase one's friends, but the poor lose their friends.
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Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies, but poor people are avoided like a plague.
5 A false witness won't go unpunished, and a liar won't escape.
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Perjury won't go unpunished. Would you let a liar go free?
6 Many seek favor from rulers; everyone befriends a gift giver.
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Lots of people flock around a generous person; everyone's a friend to the philanthropist.
7 All the relatives of the poor hate them; even more, their friends stay far from them. When they pursue them with words, they aren't there.
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When you're down on your luck, even your family avoids you - yes, even your best friends wish you'd get lost. If they see you coming, they look the other way - out of sight, out of mind.
8 Those who acquire good sense love themselves; those who keep understanding find success.
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Grow a wise heart - you'll do yourself a favor; keep a clear head - you'll find a good life.
9 False witnesses won't go unpunished, and liars will perish.
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The person who tells lies gets caught; the person who spreads rumors is ruined.
10 Luxury isn't fitting for a fool; even less so for a servant to rule over princes.
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Blockheads shouldn't live on easy street any more than workers should give orders to their boss.
11 Insightful people restrain their anger; their glory is to ignore an offense.
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Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget.
12 A raging king roars like a lion; his favor is like the dew on the grass.
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Mean-tempered leaders are like mad dogs; the good-natured are like fresh morning dew.
13 A foolish son is a disaster to his father; a contentious wife is like constant dripping.
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A parent is worn to a frazzle by a stupid child; a nagging spouse is a leaky faucet.
14 House and riches are an inheritance from one's ancestors, but an insightful wife is from the LORD.
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House and land are handed down from parents, but a congenial spouse comes straight from God.
15 Laziness brings on deep sleep; a slacker goes hungry.
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Life collapses on loafers; lazybones go hungry.
16 Those who keep the commandment preserve their lives; those who disregard their ways will die.
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Keep the rules and keep your life; careless living kills.
17 Those who are gracious to the poor lend to the LORD, and the Lord will fully repay them.
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Mercy to the needy is a loan to God, and God pays back those loans in full.
18 Discipline your children while there is hope, but don't plan to kill them.
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Discipline your children while you still have the chance; indulging them destroys them.
19 Angry people must pay the penalty; if you rescue them, then you will have to do it again.
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Let angry people endure the backlash of their own anger; if you try to make it better, you'll only make it worse.
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, so you might grow wise in the future.
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Take good counsel and accept correction - that's the way to live wisely and well.
21 Many plans are in a person's mind, but the LORD's purpose will succeed.
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We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails.
22 People long for trustworthiness; it is better to be poor than a liar.
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It's only human to want to make a buck, but it's better to be poor than a liar.
23 The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by harm.
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Fear-of-God is life itself, a full life, and serene - no nasty surprises.
24 Lazy people bury their hand in the bowl; they won't even put it to their mouth.
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Some people dig a fork into the pie but are too lazy to raise it to their mouth.
25 Strike someone who scoffs, and a naive person will become clever; correct someone with understanding, and they will gain knowledge.
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Punish the insolent - make an example of them. Who knows? Somebody might learn a good lesson.
26 Those who assault their father and drive out their mother are disgraceful children, worthy of reproach.
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Kids who lash out against their parents are an embarrassment and disgrace.
27 If, my child, you stop listening to discipline, you will wander away from words of knowledge.
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If you quit listening, dear child, and strike off on your own, you'll soon be out of your depth.
28 A worthless witness mocks justice; the wicked mouth gulps down trouble.
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An unprincipled witness desecrates justice; the mouths of the wicked spew malice.
29 Punishments were made for mockers, and blows for the backs of fools.
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The irreverent have to learn reverence the hard way; only a slap in the face brings fools to attention.