Common English Bible CEB
The Message Bible MSG
1 The wicked run away even though no one pursues them, but the righteous are as confident as a lion.
1
The wicked are edgy with guilt, ready to run off even when no one's after them; Honest people are relaxed and confident, bold as lions.
2 When a land rebels, there are many leaders; but a person with understanding brings order.
2
When the country is in chaos, everybody has a plan to fix it - But it takes a leader of real understanding to straighten things out.
3 Poor people who oppress the needy are rain that washes away food.
3
The wicked who oppress the poor are like a hailstorm that beats down the harvest.
4 Those who abandon Instruction praise the wicked, but those who follow Instruction battle them.
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If you desert God's law, you're free to embrace depravity; if you love God's law, you fight for it tooth and nail.
5 Evil people don't understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand everything.
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Justice makes no sense to the evilminded; those who seek God know it inside and out.
6 Better to be poor and walk in innocence than to be on crooked paths and wealthy.
6
It's better to be poor and direct than rich and crooked.
7 Intelligent children follow Instruction, but those who befriend gluttons shame their parents.
7
Practice God's law - get a reputation for wisdom; hang out with a loose crowd - embarrass your family.
8 Those who become rich through high interest rates gather money for those who are generous to the poor.
8
Get as rich as you want through cheating and extortion, But eventually some friend of the poor is going to give it all back to them.
9 Those who turn their ears from hearing Instruction— even their prayers will be detested.
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God has no use for the prayers of the people who won't listen to him.
10 Whoever misleads those who do right onto an evil path will fall into their own pit, but the blameless will inherit good things.
10
Lead good people down a wrong path and you'll come to a bad end; do good and you'll be rewarded for it.
11 Rich people think they are wise, but an insightful poor person sees through them.
11
The rich think they know it all, but the poor can see right through them.
12 When the righteous rejoice, there is great respect, but people hide when the wicked prosper.
12
When good people are promoted, everything is great, but when the bad are in charge, watch out!
13 Those who hide their sins won't succeed, but those who confess and give them up will receive mercy.
13
You can't whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them.
14 Happy are those who are continually fearful, but those whose hearts are hard fall into trouble.
14
A tenderhearted person lives a blessed life; a hardhearted person lives a hard life.
15 A wicked ruler over the poor is like a growling lion or a prowling bear.
15
Lions roar and bears charge - and the wicked lord it over the poor.
16 A prince without understanding is a cruel oppressor, but one who hates unjust gain will live long.
16
Among leaders who lack insight, abuse abounds, but for one who hates corruption, the future is bright.
17 If someone feels guilty about murder, don't hold them back from fleeing to the pit.
17
A murderer haunted by guilt is doomed - there's no helping him.
18 Those who walk in innocence will be saved, but those who go on twisted paths will fall into the grave.
18
Walk straight - live well and be saved; a devious life is a doomed life. Doing Great Harm in Seemingly Harmless Ways
19 Those who work the land will have plenty to eat, but those with worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
19
Work your garden - you'll end up with plenty of food; play and party - you'll end up with an empty plate.
20 Reliable people will have abundant blessings, but those with get-rich-quick schemes won't go unpunished.
20
Committed and persistent work pays off; get-rich-quick schemes are ripoffs.
21 Those who show favoritism aren't good; people do wrong for a crust of bread.
21
Playing favorites is always a bad thing; you can do great harm in seemingly harmless ways.
22 The stingy try to get rich fast, unaware that loss will come to them.
22
A miser in a hurry to get rich doesn't know that he'll end up broke.
23 Those who correct someone will, in the end, find more favor than those with flattering tongues.
23
In the end, serious reprimand is appreciated far more than bootlicking flattery.
24 Those who steal from their father and mother, and say, "It's not a crime," are friends of vandals.
24
Anyone who robs father and mother and says, "So, what's wrong with that?" is worse than a pirate.
25 Greedy people stir up conflict, but those who trust the LORD become prosperous.
25
A grasping person stirs up trouble, but trust in God brings a sense of well-being.
26 Those who trust in their own reasoning are fools, but those who walk in wisdom will be kept safe.
26
If you think you know it all, you're a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.
27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who turn a blind eye will be greatly cursed.
27
Be generous to the poor - you'll never go hungry; shut your eyes to their needs, and run a gauntlet of curses.
28 When the wicked rise up, people hide, but when they are destroyed, the righteous multiply.
28
When corruption takes over, good people go underground, but when the crooks are thrown out, it's safe to come out.