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New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.
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1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
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2 A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers.
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2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
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3 The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
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3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
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4 A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.
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4 A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.
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5 Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment.
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5 He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
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6 Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.
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6 Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
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7 Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.
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7 Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool-- how much worse lying lips to a ruler!
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8 An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.
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8 A bribe is a charm to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
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9 He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.
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9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
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10 A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.
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10 A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool.
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11 An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.
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11 An evil man is bent only on rebellion; a merciless official will be sent against him.
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12 It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.
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12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
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13 If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.
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13 If a man pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
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14 The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.
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14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
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15 He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.
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15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent-- the LORD detests them both.
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16 How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
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16 Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?
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17 A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.
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17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
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18 A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.
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18 A man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
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19 The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.
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19 He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction.
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20 Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.
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20 A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
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21 He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.
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21 To have a fool for a son brings grief; there is no joy for the father of a fool.
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22 A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.
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22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
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23 A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.
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23 A wicked man accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the course of justice.
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24 Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
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24 A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
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25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.
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25 A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.
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26 To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.
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26 It is not good to punish an innocent man, or to flog officials for their integrity.
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27 He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.
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27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.
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28 Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
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28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.
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| The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain. (The Bible in Basic English Version Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
