The Bible in Basic English BBE
New International Version NIV
10 No one has knowledge of a man's grief but himself; and a strange person has no part in his joy.
10
Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.
11 The house of the sinner will be overturned, but the tent of the upright man will do well.
11
The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.
12
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
13 Even while laughing the heart may be sad; and after joy comes sorrow.
13
Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief.
14 He whose heart is turned away will have the reward of his ways in full measure; but a good man will have the reward of his doings.
14
The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs.
15 The simple man has faith in every word, but the man of good sense gives thought to his footsteps.
15
The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.
16 The wise man, fearing, keeps himself from evil; but the foolish man goes on in his pride, with no thought of danger.
16
The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
17 He who is quickly angry will do what is foolish, but the man of good sense will have quiet.
17
A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.
18 Foolish behaviour is the heritage of the simple, but men of good sense are crowned with knowledge.
18
The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The knees of the evil are bent before the good; and sinners go down in the dust at the doors of the upright.
19
Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor man is hated even by his neighbour, but the man of wealth has numbers of friends.
20
The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.
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.