Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 Drinking too much makes you loud and foolish. It's stupid to get drunk.
1
Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler; Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 Fear an angry king as you would a growling lion; making him angry is suicide.
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The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion: He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3 Any fool can start arguments; the honorable thing is to stay out of them.
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It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarreling.
4 A farmer too lazy to plow his fields at the right time will have nothing to harvest.
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The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 A person's thoughts are like water in a deep well, but someone with insight can draw them out.
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Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Everyone talks about how loyal and faithful he is, but just try to find someone who really is!
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Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, But who can find a faithful man?
7 Children are fortunate if they have a father who is honest and does what is right.
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A righteous man who walks in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.
8 The king sits in judgment and knows evil when he sees it.
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A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Can anyone really say that his conscience is clear, that he has gotten rid of his sin?
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Who can say, "I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?"
10 The Lord hates people who use dishonest weights and measures.
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Differing weights and differing measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
11 Even children show what they are by what they do; you can tell if they are honest and good.
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Even a child makes himself known by his doings, Whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 The Lord has given us eyes to see with and ears to listen with.
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The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh has made even both of them.
13 If you spend your time sleeping, you will be poor. Keep busy and you will have plenty to eat.
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Don't love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 The customer always complains that the price is too high, but then he goes off and brags about the bargain he got.
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"It's no good, it's no good," says the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 If you know what you are talking about, you have something more valuable than gold or jewels.
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There is gold and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Anyone stupid enough to promise to be responsible for a stranger's debts ought to have their own property held to guarantee payment.
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Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; And hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 What you get by dishonesty you may enjoy like the finest food, but sooner or later it will be like a mouthful of sand.
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Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Get good advice and you will succeed; don't go charging into battle without a plan.
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Plans are established by advice; By wise guidance you wage war!
19 A gossip can never keep a secret. Stay away from people who talk too much.
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He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; Therefore don't keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 If you curse your parents, your life will end like a lamp that goes out in the dark.
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Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 The more easily you get your wealth, the less good it will do you.
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An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, Won't be blessed in the end.
22 Don't take it on yourself to repay a wrong. Trust the Lord and he will make it right.
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Don't say, "I will pay back evil." Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
23 The Lord hates people who use dishonest scales and weights.
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Yahweh detests differing weights, And dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 The Lord has determined our path; how then can anyone understand the direction his own life is taking?
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A man's steps are from Yahweh; How then can man understand his way?
25 Think carefully before you promise an offering to God. You might regret it later.
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It is a snare to a man make a rash dedication, And later reconsider his vows.
26 A wise king will find out who is doing wrong, and will punish him without pity.
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A wise king winnows out the wicked, And drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The Lord gave us mind and conscience; we cannot hide from ourselves.
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The spirit of man is Yahweh's lamp, Searching all his innermost parts.
28 A king will remain in power as long as his rule is honest, just, and fair.
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Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
29 We admire the strength of youth and respect the gray hair of age.
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The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.
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Wounding blows cleanse away evil, And beatings purge the innermost parts.