English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.
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Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.
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We justify our actions by appearances; God examines our motives.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
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Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors mean far more to God than religious performance.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.
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Arrogance and pride - distinguishing marks in the wicked - are just plain sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
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Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.
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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, because they refuse to do what is just.
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The wicked get buried alive by their loot because they refuse to use it to help others.
8 The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright.
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Mixed motives twist life into tangles; pure motives take you straight down the road. Do Your Best, Prepare for the Worst
9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
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Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack than share a mansion with a nagging spouse.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
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Wicked souls love to make trouble; they feel nothing for friends and neighbors.
11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
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Simpletons only learn the hard way, but the wise learn by listening.
12 The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he throws the wicked down to ruin.
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A God-loyal person will see right through the wicked and undo the evil they've planned.
13 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.
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If you stop your ears to the cries of the poor, your cries will go unheard, unanswered.
14 A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe, strong wrath.
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A quietly given gift soothes an irritable person; a heartfelt present cools a hot temper.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
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Good people celebrate when justice triumphs, but for the workers of evil it's a bad day.
16 One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead.
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Whoever wanders off the straight and narrow ends up in a congregation of ghosts.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
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You're addicted to thrills? What an empty life! The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the traitor for the upright.
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What a bad person plots against the good, boomerangs; the plotter gets it in the end.
19 It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
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Better to live in a tent in the wild than with a cross and petulant spouse.
20 Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.
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Valuables are safe in a wise person's home; fools put it all out for yard sales.
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.
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Whoever goes hunting for what is right and kind finds life itself - glorious life!
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
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One sage entered a whole city of armed soldiers - their trusted defenses fell to pieces!
23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
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Watch your words and hold your tongue; you'll save yourself a lot of grief.
24 "Scoffer" is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.
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You know their names - Brash, Impudent, Blasphemer - intemperate hotheads, every one.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
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Lazy people finally die of hunger because they won't get up and go to work.
26 All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.
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Sinners are always wanting what they don't have; the God-loyal are always giving what they do have.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent.
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Religious performance by the wicked stinks; it's even worse when they use it to get ahead.
28 A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure.
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A lying witness is unconvincing; a person who speaks truth is respected.
29 A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways.
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Unscrupulous people fake it a lot; honest people are sure of their steps.
30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.
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Nothing clever, nothing conceived, nothing contrived, can get the better of God.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.
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Do your best, prepare for the worst - then trust God to bring victory.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
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.