Proverbs 16:25-30
Proverbs 16:25-30 The Message (MSG)
There’s a way that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell. Appetite is an incentive to work; hunger makes you work all the harder. Mean people spread mean gossip; their words smart and burn. Troublemakers start fights; gossips break up friendships. Calloused climbers betray their very own friends; they’d stab their own grandmothers in the back. A shifty eye betrays an evil intention; a clenched jaw signals trouble ahead.
Proverbs 16:25-30 King James Version (KJV)
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death. He that laboureth laboureth for himself; For his mouth craveth it of him. An ungodly man diggeth up evil: And in his lips there is as a burning fire. A froward man soweth strife: And a whisperer separateth chief friends. A violent man enticeth his neighbour, And leadeth him into the way that is not good. He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: Moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
Proverbs 16:25-30 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. A worker’s appetite works for him, For his hunger urges him on. A worthless man digs up evil, While his words are like scorching fire. A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends. A man of violence entices his neighbor And leads him in a way that is not good. He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things; He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
Proverbs 16:25-30 New Century Version (NCV)
Some people think they are doing right, but in the end it leads to death. The workers’ hunger helps them, because their desire to eat makes them work. Useless people make evil plans, and their words are like a burning fire. A useless person causes trouble, and a gossip ruins friendships. Cruel people trick their neighbors and lead them to do wrong. Someone who winks is planning evil, and the one who grins is planning something wrong.
Proverbs 16:25-30 American Standard Version (ASV)
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death. The appetite of the laboring man laboreth for him; For his mouth urgeth him thereto. A worthless man deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire. A perverse man scattereth abroad strife; And a whisperer separateth chief friends. A man of violence enticeth his neighbor, And leadeth him in a way that is not good. He that shutteth his eyes, it is to devise perverse things: He that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass.
Proverbs 16:25-30 New International Version (NIV)
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. The appetite of laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on. A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips it is like a scorching fire. A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good. Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity; whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.
Proverbs 16:25-30 New King James Version (NKJV)
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on. An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends. A violent man entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not good. He winks his eye to devise perverse things; He purses his lips and brings about evil.
Proverbs 16:25-30 Amplified Bible (AMP)
There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, But its end is the way of death. The appetite of a worker works for him, For his hunger urges him on. A worthless man devises and digs up evil, And the words on his lips are like a scorching fire. A perverse man spreads strife, And one who gossips separates intimate friends. A violent and exceedingly covetous man entices his neighbor [to sin], And leads him in a way that is not good. He who [slyly] winks his eyes does so to plot perverse things; And he who compresses his lips [as if in a secret signal] brings evil to pass.
Proverbs 16:25-30 New Living Translation (NLT)
There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. It is good for workers to have an appetite; an empty stomach drives them on. Scoundrels create trouble; their words are a destructive blaze. A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. Violent people mislead their companions, leading them down a harmful path. With narrowed eyes, people plot evil; with a smirk, they plan their mischief.
Proverbs 16:25-30 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Before every person there is a path that seems like the right one to take, but it leads straight to hell! Life motivation comes from the deep longings of the heart, and the passion to see them fulfilled urges you onward. A wicked scoundrel wants to dig up dirt on others, only to spread slander and shred their reputation. A twisted person spreads rumors; a whispering gossip ruins good friendships. A vicious criminal can be persuasive, enticing others to join him as partners in crime, but he leads them all down a despicable path. It’s easy to tell when a wicked man is hatching some crooked scheme— it’s written all over his face. His looks betray him as he gives birth to his sin.
Proverbs 16:25-30 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. A worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on. A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good. Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things; he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.