GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New International Version NIV
1 A person who will not bend after many warnings will suddenly be broken beyond repair.
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Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
2 When righteous people increase, the people [of God] rejoice, but when a wicked person rules, everybody groans.
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When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3 A person who loves wisdom makes his father happy, but one who pays prostitutes wastes his wealth.
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A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
4 By means of justice, a king builds up a country, but a person who confiscates religious contributions tears it down.
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By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.
5 A person who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for him to step into.
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Those who flatter their neighbors are spreading nets for their feet.
6 To an evil person sin is bait in a trap, but a righteous person runs away from it and is glad.
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Evildoers are snared by their own sin, but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.
7 A righteous person knows the just cause of the poor. A wicked person does not understand this.
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The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
8 Mockers create an uproar in a city, but wise people turn away anger.
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Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger.
9 When a wise person goes to court with a stubborn fool, he may rant and rave, but there is no peace and quiet.
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If a wise person goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
10 Bloodthirsty people hate an innocent person, but decent people seek [to protect] his life.
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The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright.
11 A fool expresses all his emotions, but a wise person controls them.
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Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.
12 If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked.
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If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.
13 A poor person and an oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives both of them sight.
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The poor and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.
14 When a king judges the poor with honesty, his throne will always be secure.
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If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever.
15 A spanking and a warning produce wisdom, but an undisciplined child disgraces his mother.
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A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.
16 When wicked people increase, crime increases, but righteous people will witness their downfall.
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When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall.
17 Correct your son, and he will give you peace of mind. He will bring delight to your soul.
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Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.
18 Without prophetic vision people run wild, but blessed are those who follow [God's] teachings.
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Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
19 A slave cannot be disciplined with words. He will not respond, though he may understand.
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Servants cannot be corrected by mere words; though they understand, they will not respond.
20 Have you met a person who is quick to answer? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
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Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
21 Pamper a slave from childhood, and later he will be ungrateful.
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A servant pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent.
22 An angry person stirs up a fight, and a hothead does much wrong.
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An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.
23 A person's pride will humiliate him, but a humble spirit gains honor.
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Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.
24 Whoever is a thief's partner hates his own life. He will not testify under oath.
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The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies; they are put under oath and dare not testify.
25 A person's fear sets a trap [for him], but one who trusts the LORD is safe.
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Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
26 Many seek an audience with a ruler, but justice for humanity comes from the LORD.
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Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that one gets justice.
27 An unjust person is disgusting to righteous people. A decent person is disgusting to wicked people.
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The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.