‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:1‭-‬27‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] Don’t brashly announce what you’re going to do tomorrow; you don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. [2] Don’t call attention to yourself; let others do that for you. [3] Carrying a log across your shoulders while you’re hefting a boulder with your arms Is nothing compared to the burden of putting up with a fool. [4] We’re blasted by anger and swamped by rage, but who can survive jealousy? [5] A spoken reprimand is better than approval that’s never expressed. [6] The wounds from a lover are worth it; kisses from an enemy do you in. [7] When you’ve stuffed yourself, you refuse dessert; when you’re starved, you could eat a horse. [8] People who won’t settle down, wandering hither and yon, are like restless birds, flitting to and fro. [9] Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul. [10] Don’t leave your friends or your parents’ friends and run home to your family when things get rough; Better a nearby friend than a distant family. [11] Become wise, dear child, and make me happy; then nothing the world throws my way will upset me. [12] A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered. [13] Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger; be wary of accepting what a transient has pawned. [14] If you wake your friend in the early morning by shouting “Rise and shine!” It will sound to him more like a curse than a blessing. [15-16] A nagging spouse is like the drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet; You can’t turn it off, and you can’t get away from it. [17] You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another. [18] If you care for your orchard, you’ll enjoy its fruit; if you honor your boss, you’ll be honored. [19] Just as water mirrors your face, so your face mirrors your heart. [20] Hell has a voracious appetite, and lust just never quits. [21] The purity of silver and gold is tested by putting them in the fire; The purity of human hearts is tested by giving them a little fame. [22] Pound on a fool all you like— you can’t pound out foolishness. [23-27] Know your sheep by name; carefully attend to your flocks; (Don’t take them for granted; possessions don’t last forever, you know.) And then, when the crops are in and the harvest is stored in the barns, You can knit sweaters from lambs’ wool, and sell your goats for a profit; There will be plenty of milk and meat to last your family through the winter.

https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.27.1.MSG

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭26:1‭-‬28‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] We no more give honors to fools than pray for snow in summer or rain during harvest. [2] You have as little to fear from an undeserved curse as from the dart of a wren or the swoop of a swallow. [3] A whip for the racehorse, a tiller for the sailboat— and a stick for the back of fools! [4] Don’t respond to the stupidity of a fool; you’ll only look foolish yourself. [5] Answer a fool in simple terms so he doesn’t get a swelled head. [6] You’re only asking for trouble when you send a message by a fool. [7] A proverb quoted by fools is limp as a wet noodle. [8] Putting a fool in a place of honor is like setting a mud brick on a marble column. [9] To ask a moron to quote a proverb is like putting a scalpel in the hands of a drunk. [10] Hire a fool or a drunk and you shoot yourself in the foot. [11] As a dog eats its own vomit, so fools recycle silliness. [12] See that man who thinks he’s so smart? You can expect far more from a fool than from him. [13] Loafers say, “It’s dangerous out there! Tigers are prowling the streets!” and then pull the covers back over their heads. [14] Just as a door turns on its hinges, so a lazybones turns back over in bed. [15] A shiftless sluggard puts his fork in the pie, but is too lazy to lift it to his mouth. [16] Dreamers fantasize their self-importance; they think they are smarter than a whole college faculty. [17] You grab a mad dog by the ears when you butt into a quarrel that’s none of your business. [18-19] People who shrug off deliberate deceptions, saying, “I didn’t mean it, I was only joking,” Are worse than careless campers who walk away from smoldering campfires. [20] When you run out of wood, the fire goes out; when the gossip ends, the quarrel dies down. [21] A quarrelsome person in a dispute is like kerosene thrown on a fire. [22] Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; do you want junk like that in your belly? [23] Smooth talk from an evil heart is like glaze on cracked pottery. [24-26] Your enemy shakes hands and greets you like an old friend, all the while plotting against you. When he speaks warmly to you, don’t believe him for a minute; he’s just waiting for the chance to rip you off. No matter how shrewdly he conceals his malice, eventually his evil will be exposed in public. [27] Malice backfires; spite boomerangs. [28] Liars hate their victims; flatterers sabotage trust.

https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.26.1.MSG

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭25:1‭-‬28‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] There are also these proverbs of Solomon, collected by scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah. [2] God delights in concealing things; scientists delight in discovering things. [3] Like the horizons for breadth and the ocean for depth, the understanding of a good leader is broad and deep. [4-5] Remove impurities from the silver and the silversmith can craft a fine chalice; Remove the wicked from leadership and authority will be credible and God-honoring. [6-7] Don’t work yourself into the spotlight; don’t push your way into the place of prominence. It’s better to be promoted to a place of honor than face humiliation by being demoted. [8] Don’t jump to conclusions—there may be a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw. [9-10] In the heat of an argument, don’t betray confidences; Word is sure to get around, and no one will trust you. [11-12] The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, And a wise friend’s timely reprimand is like a gold ring slipped on your finger. [13] Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat—refreshing! [14] Like billowing clouds that bring no rain is the person who talks big but never produces. [15] Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses. [16-17] When you’re given a box of candy, don’t gulp it all down; eat too much chocolate and you’ll make yourself sick; And when you find a friend, don’t outwear your welcome; show up at all hours and he’ll soon get fed up. [18] Anyone who tells lies against the neighbors in court or on the street is a loose cannon. [19] Trusting a double-crosser when you’re in trouble is like biting down on an abscessed tooth. [20] Singing light songs to the heavyhearted is like pouring salt in their wounds. [21-22] If you see your enemy hungry, go buy him lunch; if he’s thirsty, bring him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness, and God will look after you. [23] A north wind brings stormy weather, and a gossipy tongue stormy looks. [24] Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack than share a mansion with a nagging spouse. [25] Like a cool drink of water when you’re worn out and weary is a letter from a long-lost friend. [26] A good person who gives in to a bad person is a muddied spring, a polluted well. [27] It’s not smart to stuff yourself with sweets, nor is glory piled on glory good for you. [28] A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.

https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.25.1.MSG

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24:1‭-‬26‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1-2] Don’t envy bad people; don’t even want to be around them. All they think about is causing a disturbance; all they talk about is making trouble. [3-4] It takes wisdom to build a house, and understanding to set it on a firm foundation; It takes knowledge to furnish its rooms with fine furniture and beautiful draperies. [5-6] It’s better to be wise than strong; intelligence outranks muscle any day. Strategic planning is the key to warfare; to win, you need a lot of good counsel. [7] Wise conversation is way over the head of fools; in a serious discussion they haven’t a clue. [8-9] The person who’s always cooking up some evil soon gets a reputation as prince of rogues. Fools incubate sin; cynics desecrate beauty. [10] If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn’t much to you in the first place. [11-12] Rescue the perishing; don’t hesitate to step in and help. If you say, “Hey, that’s none of my business,” will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely, you know— Someone not impressed with weak excuses. [13-14] Eat honey, dear child—it’s good for you— and delicacies that melt in your mouth. Likewise knowledge, and wisdom for your soul— Get that and your future’s secured, your hope is on solid rock. [15-16] Don’t interfere with good people’s lives; don’t try to get the best of them. No matter how many times you trip them up, God-loyal people don’t stay down long; Soon they’re up on their feet, while the wicked end up flat on their faces. [17-18] Don’t laugh when your enemy falls; don’t gloat over his collapse. God might see, and become very provoked, and then take pity on his plight. [19-20] Don’t bother your head with braggarts or wish you could succeed like the wicked. Those people have no future at all; they’re headed down a dead-end street. [21-22] Fear God, dear child—respect your leaders; don’t be defiant or mutinous. Without warning your life can turn upside down, and who knows how or when it might happen? [23] It’s wrong, very wrong, to go along with injustice. [24-25] Whoever whitewashes the wicked gets a black mark in the history books, But whoever exposes the wicked will be thanked and rewarded. [26] An honest answer is like a warm hug.
[28-29] Don’t talk about your neighbors behind their backs— no slander or gossip, please. Don’t say to anyone, “I’ll get back at you for what you did to me. I’ll make you pay for what you did!” [30-34] One day I walked by the field of an old lazybones, and then passed the vineyard of a slob; They were overgrown with weeds, thick with thistles, all the fences broken down. I took a long look and pondered what I saw; the fields preached me a sermon and I listened: “A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next? Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life, with poverty as your permanent houseguest!”

https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.24.1-2.MSG

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭23:1‭-‬35‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1-3] When you go out to dinner with an influential person, mind your manners: Don’t gobble your food, don’t talk with your mouth full. And don’t stuff yourself; bridle your appetite. [4-5] Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich; restrain yourself! Riches disappear in the blink of an eye; wealth sprouts wings and flies off into the wild blue yonder. [6-8] Don’t accept a meal from a tightwad; don’t expect anything special. He’ll be as stingy with you as he is with himself; he’ll say, “Eat! Drink!” but won’t mean a word of it. His miserly serving will turn your stomach when you realize the meal’s a sham. [9] Don’t bother talking sense to fools; they’ll only poke fun at your words. [10-11] Don’t stealthily move back the boundary lines or cheat orphans out of their property, For they have a powerful Advocate who will go to bat for them. [12] Give yourselves to disciplined instruction; open your ears to tested knowledge. [13-14] Don’t be afraid to correct your young ones; a spanking won’t kill them. A good spanking, in fact, might save them from something worse than death. [15-16] Dear child, if you become wise, I’ll be one happy parent. My heart will dance and sing to the tuneful truth you’ll speak. [17-18] Don’t for a minute envy careless rebels; soak yourself in the Fear-of-God— That’s where your future lies. Then you won’t be left with an armload of nothing. [19-21] Oh listen, dear child—become wise; point your life in the right direction. Don’t drink too much wine and get drunk; don’t eat too much food and get fat. Drunks and gluttons will end up on skid row, in a stupor and dressed in rags. [22-25] Listen with respect to the father who raised you, and when your mother grows old, don’t neglect her. Buy truth—don’t sell it for love or money; buy wisdom, buy education, buy insight. Parents rejoice when their children turn out well; wise children become proud parents. So make your father happy! Make your mother proud! [26] Dear child, I want your full attention; please do what I show you. [27-28] A prostitute is a bottomless pit; a loose woman can get you in deep trouble fast. She’ll take you for all you’ve got; she’s worse than a pack of thieves. [29-35] Who are the people who are always crying the blues? Who do you know who reeks of self-pity? Who keeps getting beaten up for no reason at all? Whose eyes are bleary and bloodshot? It’s those who spend the night with a bottle, for whom drinking is serious business. Don’t judge wine by its label, or its bouquet, or its full-bodied flavor. Judge it rather by the hangover it leaves you with— the splitting headache, the queasy stomach. Do you really prefer seeing double, with your speech all slurred, Reeling and seasick, drunk as a sailor? “They hit me,” you’ll say, “but it didn’t hurt; they beat on me, but I didn’t feel a thing. When I’m sober enough to manage it, bring me another drink!”

https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.23.1-3.MSG

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22:1‭-‬29‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich; a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank. [2] The rich and the poor shake hands as equals— God made them both! [3] A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered. [4] The payoff for meekness and Fear-of-God is plenty and honor and a satisfying life. [5] The perverse travel a dangerous road, potholed and mud-slick; if you know what’s good for you, stay clear of it. [6] Point your kids in the right direction— when they’re old they won’t be lost. [7] The poor are always ruled over by the rich, so don’t borrow and put yourself under their power. [8] Whoever sows sin reaps weeds, and bullying anger sputters into nothing. [9] Generous hands are blessed hands because they give bread to the poor. [10] Kick out the troublemakers and things will quiet down; you need a break from bickering and griping! [11] God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken; good leaders also delight in their friendship. [12] God guards knowledge with a passion, but he’ll have nothing to do with deception. [13] The loafer says, “There’s a lion on the loose! If I go out I’ll be eaten alive!” [14] The mouth of a prostitute is a bottomless pit; you’ll fall in that pit if you’re on the outs with God. [15] Young people are prone to foolishness and fads; the cure comes through tough-minded discipline. [16] Exploit the poor or glad-hand the rich—whichever, you’ll end up the poorer for it. [17-21] Listen carefully to my wisdom; take to heart what I can teach you. You’ll treasure its sweetness deep within; you’ll give it bold expression in your speech. To make sure your foundation is trust in God, I’m laying it all out right now just for you. I’m giving you thirty sterling principles— tested guidelines to live by. Believe me—these are truths that work, and will keep you accountable to those who sent you. [22-23] Don’t walk on the poor just because they’re poor, and don’t use your position to crush the weak, Because God will come to their defense; the life you took, he’ll take from you and give back to them. [24-25] Don’t hang out with angry people; don’t keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious— don’t get infected. [26-27] Don’t gamble on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, pawning your house against a lucky chance. The time will come when you have to pay up; you’ll be left with nothing but the shirt on your back. [28] Don’t stealthily move back the boundary lines staked out long ago by your ancestors. [29] Observe people who are good at their work— skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don’t take a backseat to anyone.

https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.22.1.MSG

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭21:1‭-‬31‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses. [2] We justify our actions by appearances; God examines our motives. [3] Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors mean far more to God than religious performance. [4] Arrogance and pride—distinguishing marks in the wicked— are just plain sin. [5] Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind. [6] Make it to the top by lying and cheating; get paid with smoke and a promotion—to death! [7] The wicked get buried alive by their loot because they refuse to use it to help others. [8] Mixed motives twist life into tangles; pure motives take you straight down the road. [9] Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack than share a mansion with a nagging spouse. [10] Wicked souls love to make trouble; they feel nothing for friends and neighbors. [11] Simpletons only learn the hard way, but the wise learn by listening. [12] A God-loyal person will see right through the wicked and undo the evil they’ve planned. [13] If you stop your ears to the cries of the poor, your cries will go unheard, unanswered. [14] A quietly given gift soothes an irritable person; a heartfelt present cools a hot temper. [15] Good people celebrate when justice triumphs, but for the workers of evil it’s a bad day. [16] Whoever wanders off the straight and narrow ends up in a congregation of ghosts. [17] You’re addicted to thrills? What an empty life! The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied. [18] What a bad person plots against the good, boomerangs; the plotter gets it in the end. [19] Better to live in a tent in the wild than with a cross and petulant spouse. [20] Valuables are safe in a wise person’s home; fools put it all out for yard sales. [21] Whoever goes hunting for what is right and kind finds life itself—glorious life! [22] One sage entered a whole city of armed soldiers— their trusted defenses fell to pieces! [23] Watch your words and hold your tongue; you’ll save yourself a lot of grief. [24] You know their names—Brash, Impudent, Blasphemer— intemperate hotheads, every one. [25] Lazy people finally die of hunger because they won’t get up and go to work. [26] Sinners are always wanting what they don’t have; the God-loyal are always giving what they do have. [27] Religious performance by the wicked stinks; it’s even worse when they use it to get ahead. [28] A lying witness is unconvincing; a person who speaks truth is respected. [29] Unscrupulous people fake it a lot; honest people are sure of their steps. [30] Nothing clever, nothing conceived, nothing contrived, can get the better of God. [31] Do your best, prepare for the worst— then trust God to bring victory.

https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.21.1.MSG

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭20:1‭-‬30‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome— a staggering drunk is not much fun. [2] Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs— cross them and they bite your head off. [3] It’s a mark of good character to avert quarrels, but fools love to pick fights. [4] A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring has nothing to harvest in the fall. [5] Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within. [6] Lots of people claim to be loyal and loving, but where on earth can you find one? [7] God-loyal people, living honest lives, make it much easier for their children. [8-9] Leaders who know their business and care keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and cheap, For who among us can be trusted to be always diligent and honest? [10] Switching price tags and padding the expense account are two things God hates. [11] Young people eventually reveal by their actions if their motives are on the up and up. [12] Ears that hear and eyes that see— we get our basic equipment from God! [13] Don’t be too fond of sleep; you’ll end up in the poorhouse. Wake up and get up; then there’ll be food on the table. [14] The shopper says, “That’s junk—I’ll take it off your hands,” then goes off boasting of the bargain. [15] Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems. [16] Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger; beware of accepting what a transient has pawned. [17] Stolen bread tastes sweet, but soon your mouth is full of gravel. [18] Form your purpose by asking for counsel, then carry it out using all the help you can get. [19] Gossips can’t keep secrets, so never confide in blabbermouths. [20] Anyone who curses father and mother extinguishes light and exists benighted. [21] A bonanza at the beginning is no guarantee of blessing at the end. [22] Don’t ever say, “I’ll get you for that!” Wait for God; he’ll settle the score. [23] God hates cheating in the marketplace; rigged scales are an outrage. [24] The very steps we take come from God; otherwise how would we know where we’re going? [25] An impulsive vow is a trap; later you’ll wish you could get out of it. [26] After careful scrutiny, a wise leader makes a clean sweep of rebels and dolts. [27] God is in charge of human life, watching and examining us inside and out. [28] Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity. [29] Youth may be admired for vigor, but gray hair gives prestige to old age. [30] A good thrashing purges evil; punishment goes deep within us.

https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.20.1.MSG

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19:1‭-‬29‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] Better to be poor and honest than a rich person no one can trust. [2] Ignorant zeal is worthless; haste makes waste. [3] People ruin their lives by their own stupidity, so why does God always get blamed? [4] Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies, but poor people are avoided like a plague. [5] Perjury won’t go unpunished. Would you let a liar go free? [6] Lots of people flock around a generous person; everyone’s a friend to the philanthropist. [7] When you’re down on your luck, even your family avoids you— yes, even your best friends wish you’d get lost. If they see you coming, they look the other way— out of sight, out of mind. [8] Grow a wise heart—you’ll do yourself a favor; keep a clear head—you’ll find a good life. [9] The person who tells lies gets caught; the person who spreads rumors is ruined. [10] Blockheads shouldn’t live on easy street any more than workers should give orders to their boss. [11] Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget. [12] Mean-tempered leaders are like mad dogs; the good-natured are like fresh morning dew. [13] A parent is worn to a frazzle by an irresponsible child; a nagging spouse is a leaky faucet. [14] House and land are handed down from parents, but a congenial spouse comes straight from God. [15] Life collapses on loafers; lazybones go hungry. [16] Keep the rules and keep your life; careless living kills. [17] Mercy to the needy is a loan to God, and God pays back those loans in full. [18] Discipline your children while you still have the chance; indulging them destroys them. [19] Let angry people endure the backlash of their own anger; if you try to make it better, you’ll only make it worse. [20] Take good counsel and accept correction— that’s the way to live wisely and well. [21] We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails. [22] It’s only human to want to make a buck, but it’s better to be poor than a liar. [23] Fear-of-God is life itself, a full life, and serene—no nasty surprises. [24] Some people dig a fork into the pie but are too lazy to raise it to their mouth. [25] Punish the insolent—make an example of them. Who knows? Somebody might learn a good lesson. [26] Kids who lash out against their parents are an embarrassment and disgrace. [27] If you quit listening, dear child, and strike off on your own, you’ll soon be out of your depth. [28] An unprincipled witness desecrates justice; the mouths of the wicked spew malice. [29] The irreverent have to learn reverence the hard way; only a slap in the face brings fools to attention.

https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.19.1.MSG

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17:1‭-‬28‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] A meal of bread and water in contented peace is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels. [2] A wise servant takes charge of an unruly child and is honored as one of the family. [3] As silver in a crucible and gold in a pan, so our lives are refined by God. [4] Evil people relish malicious conversation; the ears of liars itch for dirty gossip. [5] Whoever mocks poor people insults their Creator; gloating over misfortune is a punishable crime. [6] Old people are distinguished by grandchildren; children take pride in their parents. [7] We don’t expect eloquence from fools, nor do we expect lies from our leaders. [8] Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone; any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted. [9] Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend! [10] A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense does more than a whack on the head of a fool. [11] Criminals out looking for nothing but trouble won’t have to wait long—they’ll meet it coming and going! [12] Better to meet a grizzly robbed of her cubs than a fool hellbent on folly. [13] Those who return evil for good will meet their own evil returning. [14] The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam, so stop it before it bursts. [15] Whitewashing bad people and throwing mud on good people are equally abhorrent to God. [16] What’s this? Fools out shopping for wisdom! They wouldn’t recognize it if they saw it! [17] Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble. [18] It’s stupid to try to get something for nothing, or run up huge bills you can never pay. [19] The person who courts sin marries trouble; build a wall, invite a burglar. [20] A bad motive can’t achieve a good end; double-talk brings you double trouble. [21] Having a fool for a child is misery; it’s no fun being the parent of a dolt. [22] A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired. [23] The wicked take bribes under the table; they show nothing but contempt for justice. [24] The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard; fools look for it everywhere but right here. [25] A surly, stupid child is sheer pain to a father, a bitter pill for a mother to swallow. [26] It’s wrong to penalize good behavior, or make good citizens pay for the crimes of others. [27] The one who knows much says little; an understanding person remains calm. [28] Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise; as long as they keep their mouths shut, they’re smart.

https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.17.1.MSG

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:1‭-‬33‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word. [2] Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; God probes for what is good. [3] Put God in charge of your work, then what you’ve planned will take place. [4] God made everything with a place and purpose; even the wicked are included—but for judgment. [5] God can’t stomach arrogance or pretense; believe me, he’ll put those braggarts in their place. [6] Guilt is banished through love and truth; Fear-of-God deflects evil. [7] When God approves of your life, even your enemies will end up shaking your hand. [8] Far better to be right and poor than to be wrong and rich. [9] We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it. [10] A good leader motivates, doesn’t mislead, doesn’t exploit. [11] God cares about honesty in the workplace; your business is his business. [12] Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation. [13] Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tell them the truth. [14] An intemperate leader wreaks havoc in lives; you’re smart to stay clear of someone like that. [15] Good-tempered leaders invigorate lives; they’re like spring rain and sunshine. [16] Get wisdom—it’s worth more than money; choose insight over income every time. [17] The road of right living bypasses evil; watch your step and save your life. [18] First pride, then the crash— the bigger the ego, the harder the fall. [19] It’s better to live humbly among the poor than to live it up among the rich and famous. [20] It pays to take life seriously; things work out when you trust in God. [21] A wise person gets known for insight; gracious words add to one’s reputation. [22] True intelligence is a spring of fresh water, while fools sweat it out the hard way. [23] They make a lot of sense, these wise folks; whenever they speak, their reputation increases. [24] Gracious speech is like clover honey— good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body. [25] There’s a way that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell. [26] Appetite is an incentive to work; hunger makes you work all the harder. [27] Mean people spread mean gossip; their words smart and burn. [28] Troublemakers start fights; gossips break up friendships. [29] Calloused climbers betray their very own friends; they’d stab their own grandmothers in the back. [30] A shifty eye betrays an evil intention; a clenched jaw signals trouble ahead. [31] Gray hair is a mark of distinction, the award for a God-loyal life. [32] Moderation is better than muscle, self-control better than political power. [33] Make your motions and cast your votes, but God has the final say.

https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.16.1.MSG

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15:1‭-‬33‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire. [2] Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense. [3] God doesn’t miss a thing— he’s alert to good and evil alike. [4] Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim. [5] Moral dropouts won’t listen to their elders; welcoming correction is a mark of good sense. [6] The lives of God-loyal people flourish; a misspent life is soon bankrupt. [7] Perceptive words spread knowledge; fools are hollow—there’s nothing to them. [8] God can’t stand pious poses, but he delights in genuine prayers. [9] A life frittered away disgusts God; he loves those who run straight for the finish line. [10] It’s a school of hard knocks for those who leave God’s path, a dead-end street for those who hate God’s rules. [11] Even hell holds no secrets from God— do you think he can’t read human hearts? [12] Know-it-alls don’t like being told what to do; they avoid the company of wise men and women. [13] A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day. [14] An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth; fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies. [15] A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song. [16] A simple life in the Fear-of-God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches. [17] Better a bread crust shared in love than a slab of prime rib served in hate. [18] Hot tempers start fights; a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace. [19] The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers; the diligent walk down a smooth road. [20] Intelligent children make their parents proud; lazy students embarrass their parents. [21] The empty-headed treat life as a plaything; the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it. [22] Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed. [23] Congenial conversation—what a pleasure! The right word at the right time—beautiful! [24] Life ascends to the heights for the thoughtful— it’s a clean about-face from descent into hell. [25] God smashes the pretensions of the arrogant; he stands with those who have no standing. [26] God can’t stand evil scheming, but he puts words of grace and beauty on display. [27] A greedy and grasping person destroys community; those who refuse to exploit live and let live. [28] Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people; the wicked are sewers of abuse. [29] God keeps his distance from the wicked; he closely attends to the prayers of God-loyal people. [30] A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart, and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle. [31] Listen to good advice if you want to live well, an honored guest among wise men and women. [32] An undisciplined, self-willed life is puny; an obedient, God-willed life is spacious. [33] Fear-of-God is a school in skilled living— first you learn humility, then you experience glory.

https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.15.1.MSG

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14:1‭-‬35‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[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 friends will be an outsider at their celebrations. [11] Lives of careless wrongdoing are run-down 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. [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 witness and 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 water so 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.

https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.14.1.MSG

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13:1‭-‬25‬ ‭MSG‬‬
[1] Intelligent children listen to their parents; foolish children do their own thing. [2] The good acquire a taste for helpful conversation; bullies push and shove their way through life. [3] Careful words make for a careful life; careless talk may ruin everything. [4] Indolence wants it all and gets nothing; the energetic have something to show for their lives. [5] A good person hates false talk; a bad person wallows in gibberish. [6] A God-loyal life keeps you on track; sin dumps the wicked in the ditch. [7] A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life. [8] The rich can be sued for everything they have, but the poor are free of such threats. [9] The lives of good people are brightly lit streets; the lives of the wicked are dark alleys. [10] Arrogant know-it-alls stir up discord, but wise men and women listen to each other’s counsel. [11] Easy come, easy go, but steady diligence pays off. [12] Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around. [13] Ignore the Word and suffer; honor God’s commands and grow rich. [14] The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, so, no more drinking from death-tainted wells! [15] Sound thinking makes for gracious living, but liars walk a rough road. [16] A commonsense person lives good sense; fools litter the country with silliness. [17] Irresponsible talk makes a real mess of things, but a reliable reporter is a healing presence. [18] Refuse discipline and end up homeless; embrace correction and live an honored life. [19] Souls who follow their hearts thrive; fools bent on evil despise matters of soul. [20] Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces. [21] Disaster entraps sinners, but God-loyal people get a good life. [22] A good life gets passed on to the grandchildren; ill-gotten wealth ends up with good people. [23] Banks foreclose on the farms of the poor, or else the poor lose their shirts to crooked lawyers. [24] A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them. [25] An appetite for good brings much satisfaction, but the belly of the wicked always wants more.

https://bible.com/bible/97/pro.13.1.MSG