Justice makes no sense to the evilminded; those who seek God know it inside and out. It's better to be poor and direct than rich and crooked. Practice God's law-get a reputation for wisdom; hang out with a loose crowd-embarrass your family. God has no use for the prayers of the people who won't listen to him. Lead good people down a wrong path and you'll come to a bad end; do good and you'll be rewarded for it. You can't whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them. A tenderhearted person lives a blessed life; a hardhearted person lives a hard life. Among leaders who lack insight, abuse abounds, but for one who hates corruption, the future is bright. Walk straight-live well and be saved; a devious life is a doomed life. Doing Great Harm in Seemingly Harmless Ways In the end, serious reprimand is appreciated far more than bootlicking flattery. A grasping person stirs up trouble, but trust in God brings a sense of well-being. If you think you know it all, you're a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others. When corruption takes over, good people go underground, but when the crooks are thrown out, it's safe to come out. (Proverbs 28:5-7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18, 23, 25, 26, 28 MSG)