The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome - a staggering drunk is not much fun.
1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs - cross them and they bite your head off.
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The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 It's a mark of good character to avert quarrels, but fools love to pick fights.
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It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring has nothing to harvest in the fall.
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The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within.
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Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Lots of people claim to be loyal and loving, but where on earth can you find one?
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Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 God-loyal people, living honest lives, make it much easier for their children.
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The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 Leaders who know their business and care keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and cheap,
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A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 For who among us can be trusted to be always diligent and honest?
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Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Switching price tags and padding the expense account are two things God hates.
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Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
11 Young people eventually reveal by their actions if their motives are on the up and up. Drinking from the Chalice of Knowledge
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Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see - we get our basic equipment from God!
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The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
13 Don't be too fond of sleep; you'll end up in the poorhouse. Wake up and get up; then there'll be food on the table.
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Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 The shopper says, "That's junk - I'll take it off your hands," then goes off boasting of the bargain.
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It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems.
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There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger; beware of accepting what a transient has pawned.
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Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Stolen bread tastes sweet, but soon your mouth is full of gravel.
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Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Form your purpose by asking for counsel, then carry it out using all the help you can get.
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Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19 Gossips can't keep secrets, so never confide in blabbermouths.
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He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Anyone who curses father and mother extinguishes light and exists benighted. The Very Steps We Take
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Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 A bonanza at the beginning is no guarantee of blessing at the end.
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An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Don't ever say, "I'll get you for that!" Wait for God; he'll settle the score.
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Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
23 God hates cheating in the marketplace; rigged scales are an outrage.
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Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24 The very steps we take come from God; otherwise how would we know where we're going?
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Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
25 An impulsive vow is a trap; later you'll wish you could get out of it.
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It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26 After careful scrutiny, a wise leader makes a clean sweep of rebels and dolts.
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A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 God is in charge of human life, watching and examining us inside and out.
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The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.
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Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29 Youth may be admired for vigor, but gray hair gives prestige to old age.
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The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 A good thrashing purges evil; punishment goes deep within us.
30
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
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.