Old/New Testament
27 Don’t brag about what may happen tomorrow
because you have no idea what it will bring.
2 Let someone else praise you;
compliments are always sweeter from a stranger’s lips than from your own.
3 Heavy is rock and weighty is sand,
but more burdensome than either is the anger of a fool.
4 Wrath is fierce and anger is a tidal wave of fury,
but who of us can stand up against jealousy?
5 Open rebuke is better
than hidden love.
6 Wounds inflicted by the correction of a friend prove he is faithful;
the abundant kisses of an enemy show his lies.
7 The person who is full has no interest in honey;
but to the starving, bitterness itself is sweet.
8 Like a bird that strays far from its nest,
so is a person who forsakes his own home.
9 The heart is delighted by the fragrance of oil and sweet perfumes,
and in just the same way, the soul is sweetened by the wise counsel of a friend.
10 Do not neglect your friend or your parent’s friend for that matter.
When hard times come, you don’t have to travel far to get help from family;
A neighbor who is near is better
than a brother who is far away.
11 Study to be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,
for then your life will be my answer to anyone who hurls insults.
12 The astute see evil coming and take shelter,
but the stupid plow right on and then, of course, have to pay the price.
13 If someone guarantees a stranger’s debt, hold his garment as collateral;
if that guarantee is for the debt of a foreigner, make sure you get a deposit.
14 Anyone who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice
early in the morning,
will find his blessing regarded as a curse.
15 A constant dripping on a rainy day
and a wife’s bickering are very much alike:
16 Anyone who tries to control her might as well try to control the wind
or pick up oil in his right hand.
17 In the same way that iron sharpens iron,
a person sharpens the character of his friend.
18 Whoever takes care of a fig tree will eat of its fruit,
and whoever cares for his master will be honored.
19 Just as water reflects a person’s true face,
so the human heart reflects a person’s true character.
20 Neither the grave nor destruction is ever satisfied;
the desires of people are never totally fulfilled.
21 The crucible is used for refining silver, the furnace for gold,
but praise is what tests a person’s mettle.
22 Though you grind a fool like grain
in a mortar with a pestle,
still his foolishness will not be separated from him.
23 Pay careful attention to your flocks,
and see to the welfare of your herds
24 Because riches do not last forever,
nor does one dynasty retain power through all generations.
25 When the hay is harvested and the autumn grasses begin to grow
and the herbs of the mountains are gathered,
26 Then the lambs will provide wool for your clothing,
young goats can be sold to buy a new field,
27 And there will be enough milk from your goats
to sustain you, your family, and your serving girls.
28 The wicked run away even when no one is chasing them;
the right-living, however, stand their ground as boldly as lions.
2 Where there is rebellion in a land,
there are many petty and contending rulers;
But where there is a wise and intelligent leader,
peace and order endure.
3 A poor person who oppresses others who are poor
is like a driving rain that destroys the crops and leaves no food.
4 Those who turn their backs on God’s teaching applaud the wicked,
while those who observe His instruction oppose them at every turn.
5 Evil people are not able to understand justice,
but those who pursue the Eternal understand it completely.
6 It is better to be a pauper walking in integrity
than a dishonest man, even if he is rich.
7 Whoever follows God’s teaching is a wise child,
but the one who spends time with gluttons and drunks disgraces his parents.
8 Anyone who increases his wealth by charging a high rate of interest
is only collecting it for another who will deal more liberally with the poor.
9 The one who turns his ear from hearing God’s instruction
will find that even his prayers are detestable to God.
10 Whoever tries to deceive a good person into taking the path of evil
will fall into the pit he himself made,
but the truly honest shall be the heirs of all that is good.
11 A rich man may be wise in his own sight,
but a perceptive pauper will see right through him.
12 There is much glory when just men celebrate;
but when the wicked gain power, people take cover.
13 Whoever tries to hide his sins will not succeed,
but the one who confesses his sins and leaves them behind will find mercy.
14 Happy is the one who always fears the Lord,
but the person who hardens his heart to God falls into misfortune.
15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear,
so is a wicked man ruling over an impoverished people.
16 A leader who lacks intelligence cruelly oppresses the people,
but one who hates corruption will prosper and live a long life.
17 A man guilty of murder is a fugitive,
fleeing to the nearest hole in the ground but not escaping death’s cold pit.
Don’t do anything to save him.
18 Whoever walks in honesty will be safe,
but whoever travels the crooked path will suddenly fall.
19 Whoever cultivates his land will have plenty of food in the harvest,
but whoever cultivates worthless ventures will have poverty in abundance.
20 A reliable person will not escape blessings,
but one who wants to get rich quick will not escape trouble.
21 Showing favoritism is not good;
some will desert the truth for a measly crust of bread.
22 A greedy person is in a hurry to get rich,
but he is ignorant of the loss that is about to overtake him.
23 A person who offers constructive criticism will, in the end, be appreciated more
than a person who engages in empty flattery.
24 One who robs his father or his mother
and says, “There’s nothing wrong with that! I had it coming!”
walks in the company of murderers.
25 When the greedy want more, they stir up trouble;
but when a person trusts in the Eternal, he’s sure to prosper.
26 Anyone who puts confidence only in himself is a fool,
but the person who follows wisdom will be kept safe.
27 Whoever gives to the poor will have what he needs,
but the one who shuts his eyes to their plight will face curse after curse.
28 When the wicked have the upper hand, people go into hiding;
but when they perish, the good folk will begin to increase.
29 The one who remains defiant after repeated reprimands
will suddenly be shattered, and there will be no remedy for him.
2 When just leaders are in power, the citizens celebrate;
but when evil people gain control, their joys become moans.
3 An adult who loves wisdom and follows its ways gives his parents joy,
but one who hangs out with women of the street will lose everything.
4 A king brings stability to a land with his justice,
but one who makes unjust demands brings it to ruin.
5 The one who flatters his friend
is laying a trap that will catch his friend’s feet.
6 An evil person is sure to be trapped by his sin,
but a man who lives right is free to sing and be glad.
7 The just get involved with the poor and know their issues,
but the wicked cannot comprehend such concerns.
8 Mockers stir up a city and inflame passions,
but the wise know how to put out the fire and ease tensions.
9 When the wise go to court against a fool,
there will be ranting and raving but no resolution.
10 Bloodthirsty men despise those who are honest,
but the just find a way to help them.
11 A fool does not think before he unleashes his temper,
but a wise man holds back and remains quiet.
12 When it is known that a ruler listens to the words of liars,
soon he will have only scoundrels for advisors.
13 A poor man and his oppressor have this in common:
the Eternal created them and provides both with light and life.
14 The king who is fair in his treatment of the poor
will see his dynasty continue forever.
15 Corporal punishment and correction produce wisdom,
but a child left to follow his own willful way shames his mother.
16 When evil people are free to flourish, sin is on the rise,
but the just will surely see their destruction.
17 If you discipline your children, they will make your life easier
and refresh your soul.
18 Where there is no vision from God, the people run wild,
but those who adhere to God’s instruction know genuine happiness.
19 Words are not enough to correct a servant;
even if he understands, he will not respond.
20 Have you ever met someone who is overly eager to talk?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 If you indulge your servant from early in life,
in the end it won’t go well for either of you.
22 A hot-head provokes quarrels,
and one mastered by anger commits all kinds of sins.
23 A person’s pride brings him down,
but one of humble spirit has a firm hold on honor and respect.
24 Anyone who teams up with a thief must despise his own life,
for he is bound by an oath to tell the truth and yet refuses.[a]
25 If you fear other people, you are walking into a dangerous trap;
but if you trust in the Eternal, you will be safe.
26 Many people vie for special treatment from a ruler,
yet genuine justice proceeds from the Eternal.
27 The right-living are disgusted by the actions of the unjust;
likewise, the wicked are disgusted by the ways of the righteous.
10 I, Paul, appeal to you in the same gentle and loving spirit of the Anointed—yes, I who am humble when I’m face-to-face with you but audacious to you in these letters when I’m away (I know what they say). 2 If it were up to me, I’d rather not have to be so bold when I’m with you, especially with the kind of forceful confidence I can work up when I confront those who have accused us of walking in a worldly way. 3 For though we walk in the world, we do not fight according to this world’s rules of warfare. 4 The weapons of the war we’re fighting are not of this world but are powered by God and effective at tearing down the strongholds erected against His truth. 5 We are demolishing arguments and ideas, every high-and-mighty philosophy that pits itself against the knowledge of the one true God. We are taking prisoners of every thought, every emotion, and subduing them into obedience to the Anointed One. 6 As soon as you choose obedience, we stand ready to punish every act of disobedience.
7 Look at what is going on right in front of you. If anyone is convinced that he belongs to the Anointed, then he should think again; even if he belongs to Him, so do we. 8 I’m not embarrassed, even if it seems to others I have gone overboard in speaking about the power the Lord has given us to edify and encourage you and not to destroy anyone who strays. 9 I don’t want it to seem as if I’m simply trying to scare you with my letters; they are not hollow. 10 For some people are saying, “Paul’s letters sound authoritative and strong, but in person he just doesn’t measure up—even his speeches don’t deliver.” 11 They need to understand this: whatever we say through our letters when we are away, that is exactly what we will do when we are looking you in the eye.
12 For we would never dare to compare ourselves with people who have based their worth on self-commendation. They check themselves against and compare themselves with one another. It just shows that they don’t have any sense! 13 So we will carefully limit our boasting to the extent only of what God has done in and through us, a reach that extends as far as you. 14 For it wasn’t as if we were overreaching into someone else’s territory by reaching out to you. Weren’t we the first ones to bring you the good news of the Anointed One? 15 We carefully put limits on our boasting and avoid taking credit for what others do. But we do hope to see your faith grow so that we can watch our mission really expand all the way to the limits God has set for us. 16 The plan includes taking the good news to people and lands beyond you. We’ve no interest in or intention of staking claim to other people’s accomplishments in their arenas. As the Scripture says, 17 “The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.”[a] 18 Now let’s be clear: it’s not the one who commends himself who is approved; it’s the one whom the Lord commends.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.