Chapters

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  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19
  20. 20
  21. 21
  22. 22
  23. 23
  24. 24
  25. 25
  26. 26
  27. 27
  28. 28
  29. 29
  30. 30
  31. 31

Old Testament

New Testament

Proverbs 14 The Message (MSG)

A Way That Leads to Hell

1. Lady Wisdom builds a lovely home;Sir Fool comes along and tears it down brick by brick.

2. An honest life shows respect for God;a degenerate life is a slap in his face.

3. Frivolous talk provokes a derisive smile;wise speech evokes nothing but respect.

4. No cattle, no crops;a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow.

5. A true witness never lies;a false witness makes a business of it.

6. Cynics look high and low for wisdom—and never find it;the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!

7. Escape quickly from the company of fools;they’re a waste of your time, a waste of your words.

8. The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track;the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.

9. The stupid ridicule right and wrong,but a moral life is a favored life.

10. The person who shuns the bitter moments of friendswill be an outsider at their celebrations.

11. Lives of careless wrongdoing are tumbledown shacks;holy living builds soaring cathedrals.

12-13. There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough;look again—it leads straight to hell.Sure, those people appear to be having a good time,but all that laughter will end in heartbreak.

Sift and Weigh Every Word

14. A mean person gets paid back in meanness,a gracious person in grace.

15. The gullible believe anything they’re told;the prudent sift and weigh every word.

16. The wise watch their steps and avoid evil;fools are headstrong and reckless.

17. The hotheaded do things they’ll later regret;the coldhearted get the cold shoulder.

18. Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion;wise realists plant their feet on the ground.

19. Eventually, evil will pay tribute to good;the wicked will respect God-loyal people.

20. An unlucky loser is shunned by all,but everyone loves a winner.

21. It’s criminal to ignore a neighbor in need,but compassion for the poor—what a blessing!

22. Isn’t it obvious that conspirators lose out,while the thoughtful win love and trust?

23. Hard work always pays off;mere talk puts no bread on the table.

24. The wise accumulate wisdom;fools get stupider by the day.

25. Souls are saved by truthful witnessand betrayed by the spread of lies.

26. The Fear-of-God builds up confidence,and makes a world safe for your children.

27. The Fear-of-God is a spring of living waterso you won’t go off drinking from poisoned wells.

28. The mark of a good leader is loyal followers;leadership is nothing without a following.

29. Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding;a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.

30. A sound mind makes for a robust body,but runaway emotions corrode the bones.

31. You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless;when you’re kind to the poor, you honor God.

32. The evil of bad people leaves them out in the cold;the integrity of good people creates a safe place for living.

33. Lady Wisdom is at home in an understanding heart—fools never even get to say hello.

34. God-devotion makes a country strong;God-avoidance leaves people weak.

35. Diligent work gets a warm commendation;shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.