Common English Bible CEB
The Message Bible MSG
1 The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; he directs it wherever he wants.
1
Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.
2 Everyone's path is straight in their own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.
2
We justify our actions by appearances; God examines our motives.
3 Acting with righteousness and justice is more valued by the LORD than sacrifice.
3
Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors mean far more to God than religious performance.
4 Prideful eyes, an arrogant heart, and the lamp of the wicked are all sinful.
4
Arrogance and pride - distinguishing marks in the wicked - are just plain sin.
5 The plans of the diligent end up in profit, but those who hurry end up with loss.
5
Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind.
6 Those who gain treasure with lies are like a drifting fog, leading to death.
6
Make it to the top by lying and cheating; get paid with smoke and a promotion - to death!
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, for they refuse to act with justice.
7
The wicked get buried alive by their loot because they refuse to use it to help others.
8 The ways of some people are twisted and strange, but the behavior of those who do right is pure.
8
Mixed motives twist life into tangles; pure motives take you straight down the road. Do Your Best, Prepare for the Worst
9 Better to live on the edge of a roof than with a contentious woman in a large house.
9
Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack than share a mansion with a nagging spouse.
10 Wicked people desire evil; their neighbors receive no mercy from them.
10
Wicked souls love to make trouble; they feel nothing for friends and neighbors.
11 When a mocker is punished, the naive person gains wisdom; when insight comes to the wise, knowledge increases.
11
Simpletons only learn the hard way, but the wise learn by listening.
12 The righteous one observes the house of the wicked, turning the wicked toward trouble.
12
A God-loyal person will see right through the wicked and undo the evil they've planned.
13 Those who close their ears to the cries of the poor will themselves call out but receive no answer.
13
If you stop your ears to the cries of the poor, your cries will go unheard, unanswered.
14 A secret gift calms anger, and a hidden bribe removes furious wrath.
14
A quietly given gift soothes an irritable person; a heartfelt present cools a hot temper.
15 Acting justly is a joy to the righteous, but dreaded by those who do evil.
15
Good people celebrate when justice triumphs, but for the workers of evil it's a bad day.
16 People who wander from the path of insight will rest in the company of the dead.
16
Whoever wanders off the straight and narrow ends up in a congregation of ghosts.
17 Those who love pleasure end up poor; lovers of wine and oil won't get rich.
17
You're addicted to thrills? What an empty life! The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.
18 The wicked are a ransom for the righteous; the treacherous will be punished in the place of the virtuous.
18
What a bad person plots against the good, boomerangs; the plotter gets it in the end.
19 Better to live in a wilderness than in a house with a contentious and angry woman.
19
Better to live in a tent in the wild than with a cross and petulant spouse.
20 Precious treasure and oil stay in the home of the wise, but fools swallow them up.
20
Valuables are safe in a wise person's home; fools put it all out for yard sales.
21 Those who pursue righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.
21
Whoever goes hunting for what is right and kind finds life itself - glorious life!
22 A wise person fought a city of warriors and brought down the stronghold in which they felt safe.
22
One sage entered a whole city of armed soldiers - their trusted defenses fell to pieces!
23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues guard themselves from trouble.
23
Watch your words and hold your tongue; you'll save yourself a lot of grief.
24 Incredibly proud—mockers are their name! Their conduct involves excessive pride.
24
You know their names - Brash, Impudent, Blasphemer - intemperate hotheads, every one.
25 The desires of the lazy will kill them, because their hands refuse to do anything.
25
Lazy people finally die of hunger because they won't get up and go to work.
26 The lazy desire things constantly, but the righteous give without holding back.
26
Sinners are always wanting what they don't have; the God-loyal are always giving what they do have.
27 The LORD detests the sacrifices of the wicked, especially when brought with devious motives.
27
Religious performance by the wicked stinks; it's even worse when they use it to get ahead.
28 A lying witness will perish, but one who listens will testify successfully.
28
A lying witness is unconvincing; a person who speaks truth is respected.
29 The wicked person appears brash, but the virtuous think about the path ahead.
29
Unscrupulous people fake it a lot; honest people are sure of their steps.
30 No wisdom, understanding, or advice can stand up against the LORD.
30
Nothing clever, nothing conceived, nothing contrived, can get the better of God.
31 A horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD.
31
Do your best, prepare for the worst - then trust God to bring victory.