Hebrew Names Version HNV
The Message Bible MSG
1 He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck Will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.
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 thrive, the people rejoice; But when the wicked rule, 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 companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
3
If you love wisdom, you'll delight your parents, but you'll destroy their trust if you run with whores.
4 The king by justice makes the land stable, But he who takes bribes tears it down.
4
A leader of good judgment gives stability; an exploiting leader leaves a trail of waste.
5 A man who flatters his neighbor, Spreads a net for his feet.
5
A flattering neighbor is up to no good; he's probably planning to take advantage of you.
6 An evil man is snared by his sin, But the righteous can sing and be glad.
6
Evil people fall into their own traps; good people run the other way, glad to escape.
7 The righteous care about justice for the poor. The wicked aren't concerned about knowledge.
7
The good-hearted understand what it's like to be poor; the hardhearted haven't the faintest idea.
8 Mockers stir up a city, But wise men turn away anger.
8
A gang of cynics can upset a whole city; a group of sages can calm everyone down.
9 If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, The fool rages or scoffs, and there is no shalom.
9
A sage trying to work things out with a fool gets only scorn and sarcasm for his trouble.
10 The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity; And they seek the life of the upright.
10
Murderers hate honest people; moral folks encourage them.
11 A fool vents all of his anger, But a wise man brings himself under control.
11
A fool lets it all hang out; a sage quietly mulls it over.
12 If a ruler listens to lies, All of his officials are wicked.
12
When a leader listens to malicious gossip, all the workers get infected with evil.
13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives sight 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 The king who fairly judges the poor, His throne shall be established forever.
14
Leadership gains authority and respect when the voiceless poor are treated fairly.
15 The rod of correction gives wisdom, But a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.
15
Wise discipline imparts wisdom; spoiled adolescents embarrass their parents.
16 When the wicked increase, sin increases; But the righteous will see their downfall.
16
When degenerates take charge, crime runs wild, but the righteous will eventually observe their collapse.
17 Correct your son, and he will give you shalom; Yes, he will bring delight to your soul.
17
Discipline your children; you'll be glad you did - they'll turn out delightful to live with.
18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But one who keeps the law is blessed.
18
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 servant can't be corrected by words. Though he understands, yet he will not 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 a man who is hasty in his words? 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 He who pampers his servant from youth Will have him become a son in the end.
21
If you let people treat you like a doormat, you'll be quite forgotten in the end.
22 An angry man stirs up strife, And a wrathful man abounds in sin.
22
Angry people stir up a lot of discord; the intemperate stir up trouble.
23 A man's pride brings him low, But one who is of a lowly spirit gains honor.
23
Pride lands you flat on your face; humility prepares you for honors.
24 Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul. He takes an oath, but dares not testify.
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 The fear of man proves to be a snare, But whoever puts his trust in the LORD is kept safe.
25
The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.
26 Many seek the ruler's favor, But a man's justice comes from the LORD.
26
Everyone tries to get help from the leader, but only God will give us justice.
27 A dishonest man detests the righteous, And the upright in their ways detest the wicked.
27
Good people can't stand the sight of deliberate evil; the wicked can't stand the sight of well-chosen goodness.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.
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.