The Message Bible MSG
World English Bible WEB
1 Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.
1
The king's heart is in Yahweh's hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
2 We justify our actions by appearances; God examines our motives.
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Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But Yahweh weighs the hearts.
3 Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors mean far more to God than religious performance.
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To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 Arrogance and pride - distinguishing marks in the wicked - are just plain sin.
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A high look, and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind.
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The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; And everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
6 Make it to the top by lying and cheating; get paid with smoke and a promotion - to death!
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Getting treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
7 The wicked get buried alive by their loot because they refuse to use it to help others.
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The violence of the wicked will drive them away, Because they refuse to do what is right.
8 Mixed motives twist life into tangles; pure motives take you straight down the road. Do Your Best, Prepare for the Worst
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The way of the guilty is devious, But the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack than share a mansion with a nagging spouse.
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It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than to share a house with a contentious woman.
10 Wicked souls love to make trouble; they feel nothing for friends and neighbors.
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The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 Simpletons only learn the hard way, but the wise learn by listening.
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When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom; When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 A God-loyal person will see right through the wicked and undo the evil they've planned.
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The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, And brings the wicked to ruin.
13 If you stop your ears to the cries of the poor, your cries will go unheard, unanswered.
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Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, He will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
14 A quietly given gift soothes an irritable person; a heartfelt present cools a hot temper.
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A gift in secret pacifies anger; And a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
15 Good people celebrate when justice triumphs, but for the workers of evil it's a bad day.
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It is joy to the righteous to do justice; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
16 Whoever wanders off the straight and narrow ends up in a congregation of ghosts.
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The man who wanders out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 You're addicted to thrills? What an empty life! The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.
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He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man: He who loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
18 What a bad person plots against the good, boomerangs; the plotter gets it in the end.
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The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; The treacherous for the upright.
19 Better to live in a tent in the wild than with a cross and petulant spouse.
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It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20 Valuables are safe in a wise person's home; fools put it all out for yard sales.
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There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swallows it up.
21 Whoever goes hunting for what is right and kind finds life itself - glorious life!
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He who follows after righteousness and kindness Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 One sage entered a whole city of armed soldiers - their trusted defenses fell to pieces!
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A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of its confidence.
23 Watch your words and hold your tongue; you'll save yourself a lot of grief.
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Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.
24 You know their names - Brash, Impudent, Blasphemer - intemperate hotheads, every one.
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The proud and haughty man, "scoffer" is his name; He works in the arrogance of pride.
25 Lazy people finally die of hunger because they won't get up and go to work.
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The desire of the sluggard kills him, For his hands refuse to labor.
26 Sinners are always wanting what they don't have; the God-loyal are always giving what they do have.
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There are those who covet greedily all the day long; But the righteous gives and doesn't withhold.
27 Religious performance by the wicked stinks; it's even worse when they use it to get ahead.
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The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: How much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
28 A lying witness is unconvincing; a person who speaks truth is respected.
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A false witness will perish, And a man who listens speaks to eternity.
29 Unscrupulous people fake it a lot; honest people are sure of their steps.
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A wicked man hardens his face; But as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
30 Nothing clever, nothing conceived, nothing contrived, can get the better of God.
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There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against Yahweh.
31 Do your best, prepare for the worst - then trust God to bring victory.
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The horse is prepared for the day of battle; But victory is with Yahweh.
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 World English Bible is in the public domain.