The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Message Bible MSG
1 He who remains stiffnecked after much rebuke will be suddenly and incurably broken.
1
For people who hate discipline and only get more stubborn, There'll come a day when life tumbles in and they break, but by then it'll be too late to help them.
2 When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice; but when the wicked are in power, the people groan.
2
When good people run things, everyone is glad, but when the ruler is bad, everyone groans.
3 Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a patron of prostitutes wastes his wealth.
3
If you love wisdom, you'll delight your parents, but you'll destroy their trust if you run with whores.
4 A king gives stability to a country by justice, but one who overtaxes it brings it to ruin.
4
A leader of good judgment gives stability; an exploiting leader leaves a trail of waste.
5 A person who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his own steps.
5
A flattering neighbor is up to no good; he's probably planning to take advantage of you.
6 In an evil person's crime is a trap, but the righteous sing and rejoice.
6
Evil people fall into their own traps; good people run the other way, glad to escape.
7 The righteous understands the cause of the poor, but the wicked is unconcerned.
7
The good-hearted understand what it's like to be poor; the hardhearted haven't the faintest idea.
8 Scoffers can inflame a city, but the wise can calm the fury.
8
A gang of cynics can upset a whole city; a group of sages can calm everyone down.
9 When a wise man argues with a foolish one, he meets anger and ridicule without relief.
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A sage trying to work things out with a fool gets only scorn and sarcasm for his trouble.
10 Men of blood hate those who are pure and seek the life of the upright.
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Murderers hate honest people; moral folks encourage them.
11 A fool gives vent to all his feelings, but the wise, thinking of afterwards, stills them.
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A fool lets it all hang out; a sage quietly mulls it over.
12 If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials will be wicked.
12
When a leader listens to malicious gossip, all the workers get infected with evil.
13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common: ADONAI gives light to the eyes of both.
13
The poor and their abusers have at least something in common: they can both see - their sight, God's gift!
14 If a king steadfastly gives justice to the poor, his throne will be secure forever.
14
Leadership gains authority and respect when the voiceless poor are treated fairly.
15 The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame on his mother.
15
Wise discipline imparts wisdom; spoiled adolescents embarrass their parents.
16 When the wicked flourish, wrongdoing flourishes; but the righteous will witness their downfall.
16
When degenerates take charge, crime runs wild, but the righteous will eventually observe their collapse.
17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will be your delight.
17
Discipline your children; you'll be glad you did - they'll turn out delightful to live with.
18 Without a prophetic vision, the people throw off all restraint; but he who keeps Torah is happy.
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If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.
19 A slave can't be disciplined with words; he may understand, but he won't respond.
19
It takes more than talk to keep workers in line; mere words go in one ear and out the other.
20 Do you see someone too anxious to speak? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
20
Observe the people who always talk before they think - even simpletons are better off than they are.
21 A slave who is pampered from youth will in the end be ungrateful.
21
If you let people treat you like a doormat, you'll be quite forgotten in the end.
22 Angry people stir up strife; hot-tempered people commit many crimes.
22
Angry people stir up a lot of discord; the intemperate stir up trouble.
23 The proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored.
23
Pride lands you flat on your face; humility prepares you for honors.
24 The accomplice of a thief hates himself; he hears himself put under oath but discloses nothing.
24
Befriend an outlaw and become an enemy to yourself. When the victims cry out, you'll be included in their curses if you're a coward to their cause in court.
25 Fearing human beings is a snare; but he who trusts in ADONAI will be raised high [above danger].
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The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.
26 Many seek the ruler's favor, but it is from ADONAI that each gets justice.
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Everyone tries to get help from the leader, but only God will give us justice.
27 An unjust person is an abomination to the righteous, but he who lives uprightly is an abomination to the wicked.
27
Good people can't stand the sight of deliberate evil; the wicked can't stand the sight of well-chosen goodness.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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.