The Message

Proverbs 29:4-12 The Message (MSG)

4. A leader of good judgment gives stability;an exploiting leader leaves a trail of waste.

5. A flattering neighbor is up to no good;he’s probably planning to take advantage of you.

6. Evil people fall into their own traps;good people run the other way, glad to escape.

7. The good-hearted understand what it’s like to be poor;the hardhearted haven’t the faintest idea.

8. A gang of cynics can upset a whole city;a group of sages can calm everyone down.

9. A sage trying to work things out with a foolgets only scorn and sarcasm for his trouble.

10. Murderers hate honest people;moral folks encourage them.

11. A fool lets it all hang out;a sage quietly mulls it over.

12. When a leader listens to malicious gossip,all the workers get infected with evil.