The Bible in Basic English BBE
New International Version NIV
1 A wise son is a lover of teaching, but the ears of the haters of authority are shut to sharp words.
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A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.
2 A man will get good from the fruit of his lips, but the desire of the false is for violent acts.
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From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.
3 He who keeps a watch on his mouth keeps his life; but he whose lips are open wide will have destruction.
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Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.
4 The hater of work does not get his desires, but the soul of the hard workers will be made fat.
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A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
5 The upright man is a hater of false words: the evil-doer gets a bad name and is put to shame.
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The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves.
6 Righteousness keeps safe him whose way is without error, but evil-doers are overturned by sin.
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Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7 A man may be acting as if he had wealth, but have nothing; another may seem poor, but have great wealth.
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One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8 A man will give his wealth in exchange for his life; but the poor will not give ear to sharp words.
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A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.
9 There is a glad dawn for the upright man, but the light of the sinner will be put out.
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The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10 The only effect of pride is fighting; but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.
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Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
11 Wealth quickly got will become less; but he who gets a store by the work of his hands will have it increased.
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Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
12 Hope put off is a weariness to the heart; but when what is desired comes, it is a tree of life.
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Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 He who makes sport of the word will come to destruction, but the respecter of the law will be rewarded.
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Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning men away from the nets of death.
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The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.
15 Wise behaviour gets approval, but the way of the false is their destruction.
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Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.
16 A sharp man does everything with knowledge, but a foolish man makes clear his foolish thoughts.
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All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly.
17 A man taking false news is a cause of trouble, but he who gives news rightly makes things well.
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A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.
18 Need and shame will be the fate of him who is uncontrolled by training; but he who takes note of teaching will be honoured.
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Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
19 To get one's desire is sweet to the soul, but to give up evil is disgusting to the foolish.
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A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.
20 Go with wise men and be wise: but he who keeps company with the foolish will be broken.
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Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Evil will overtake sinners, but the upright will be rewarded with good.
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Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things.
22 The heritage of the good man is handed down to his children's children; and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the upright man.
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A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
23 There is much food in the ploughed land of the poor; but it is taken away by wrongdoing.
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An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away.
24 He who keeps back his rod is unkind to his son: the loving father gives punishment with care.
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Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.
25 The upright man has food to the full measure of his desire, but there will be no food for the stomach of evil-doers.
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The righteous eat to their hearts’ content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.