New Revised Standard NRS
The Message Bible MSG
1 One who is often reproved, yet remains stubborn, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
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 are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
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When good people run things, everyone is glad, but when the ruler is bad, everyone groans.
3 A child who loves wisdom makes a parent glad, but to keep company with prostitutes is to squander one's substance.
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If you love wisdom, you'll delight your parents, but you'll destroy their trust if you run with whores.
4 By justice a king gives stability to the land, but one who makes heavy exactions ruins it.
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A leader of good judgment gives stability; an exploiting leader leaves a trail of waste.
5 Whoever flatters a neighbor is spreading a net for the neighbor's feet.
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A flattering neighbor is up to no good; he's probably planning to take advantage of you.
6 In the transgression of the evil there is a snare, but the righteous sing and rejoice.
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Evil people fall into their own traps; good people run the other way, glad to escape.
7 The righteous know the rights of the poor; the wicked have no such understanding.
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The good-hearted understand what it's like to be poor; the hardhearted haven't the faintest idea.
8 Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.
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A gang of cynics can upset a whole city; a group of sages can calm everyone down.
9 If the wise go to law with fools, there is ranting 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 The bloodthirsty hate the blameless, and they seek the life of the upright.
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Murderers hate honest people; moral folks encourage them.
11 A fool gives full vent to anger, but the wise quietly holds it back.
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A fool lets it all hang out; a sage quietly mulls it over.
12 If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked.
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When a leader listens to malicious gossip, all the workers get infected with evil.
13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common: the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
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The poor and their abusers have at least something in common: they can both see - their sight, God's gift!
14 If a king judges the poor with equity, his throne will be established forever.
14
Leadership gains authority and respect when the voiceless poor are treated fairly.
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by a neglected child.
15
Wise discipline imparts wisdom; spoiled adolescents embarrass their parents.
16 When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases, but the righteous will look upon their downfall.
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When degenerates take charge, crime runs wild, but the righteous will eventually observe their collapse.
17 Discipline your children, and they will give you rest; they will give delight to your heart.
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Discipline your children; you'll be glad you did - they'll turn out delightful to live with.
18 Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint, but happy are those who keep the law.
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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 By mere words servants are not disciplined, for though they understand, they will not give heed.
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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 who is hasty in speech? There is more hope for a fool than for anyone like that.
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Observe the people who always talk before they think - even simpletons are better off than they are.
21 A slave pampered from childhood will come to a bad end.
21
If you let people treat you like a doormat, you'll be quite forgotten in the end.
22 One given to anger stirs up strife, and the hothead causes much transgression.
22
Angry people stir up a lot of discord; the intemperate stir up trouble.
23 A person's pride will bring humiliation, but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
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Pride lands you flat on your face; humility prepares you for honors.
24 To be a partner of a thief is to hate one's own life; one hears the victim's curse, but discloses nothing.
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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 others lays a snare, but one who trusts in the Lord is secure.
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The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.
26 Many seek the favor of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.
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Everyone tries to get help from the leader, but only God will give us justice.
27 The unjust are an abomination to the righteous, but the upright are an abomination to the wicked.
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Good people can't stand the sight of deliberate evil; the wicked can't stand the sight of well-chosen goodness.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.