| Bible in Basic English (BBE) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold.
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1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
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2 The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face: the Lord is the maker of them all.
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2 Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.
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3 The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.
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3 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
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4 The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life.
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4 Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.
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5 Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be far from them.
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5 In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them.
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6 If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.
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6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
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7 The man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who gets into debt is a servant to his creditor.
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7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
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8 By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken.
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8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
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9 He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
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9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
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10 Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end.
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10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.
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11 He whose heart is clean is dear to the Lord; for the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
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11 He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.
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12 The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned.
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12 The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
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13 The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death in the streets.
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13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside!" or, "I will be murdered in the streets!"
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14 The mouth of strange women is a deep hole: he with whom the Lord is angry will go down into it.
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14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the LORD's wrath will fall into it.
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15 Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him.
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15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
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16 He who is cruel to the poor for the purpose of increasing his profit, and he who gives to the man of wealth, will only come to be in need.
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16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich--both come to poverty.
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17 Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.
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17 Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,
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18 For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.
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18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.
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19 So that your faith may be in the Lord, I have made them clear to you this day, even to you.
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19 So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you.
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20 Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge,
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20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge,
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21 To make you see how certain are true words, so that you may give a true answer to those who put questions to you?
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21 teaching you true and reliable words, so that you can give sound answers to him who sent you?
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22 Do not take away the property of the poor man because he is poor, or be cruel to the crushed ones when they come before the judge:
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22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court,
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23 For the Lord will give support to their cause, and take the life of those who take their goods.
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23 for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who plunder them.
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24 Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man:
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24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered,
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25 For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.
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25 or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.
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26 Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts:
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26 Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts;
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27 If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.
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27 if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.
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28 Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.
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28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.
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29 Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons.
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29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.
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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) |
