The Bible in Basic English BBE
New International Version NIV
1 Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight.
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The LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.
2 When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.
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When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The righteousness of the upright will be their guide, but the twisted ways of the false will be their destruction.
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The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
4 Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness keeps a man safe from death.
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Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the good man will make his way straight, but the sin of the evil-doer will be the cause of his fall.
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The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will be their salvation, but the false will themselves be taken in their evil designs.
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The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
7 At the death of an upright man his hope does not come to an end, but the hope of the evil-doer comes to destruction.
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Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.
8 The upright man is taken out of trouble, and in his place comes the sinner.
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The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.
9 With his mouth the evil man sends destruction on his neighbour; but through knowledge the upright are taken out of trouble.
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With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.
10 When things go well for the upright man, all the town is glad; at the death of sinners, there are cries of joy.
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When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 By the blessing of the upright man the town is made great, but it is overturned by the mouth of the evil-doer.
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Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
12 He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet.
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Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
13 He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered.
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A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
14 When there is no helping suggestion the people will have a fall, but with a number of wise guides they will be safe.
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For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.
15 He who makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe.
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Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.
16 A woman who is full of grace is honoured, but a woman hating righteousness is a seat of shame: those hating work will undergo loss, but the strong keep their wealth.
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A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.
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Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
18 The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness.
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A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself.
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Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.
20 The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight
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The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
21 Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from punishment, but the seed of the upright man will be safe.
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Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.
22 Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense.
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Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
23 The desire of the upright man is only for good, but wrath is waiting for the evil-doer.
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The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
24 A man may give freely, and still his wealth will be increased; and another may keep back more than is right, but only comes to be in need.
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One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25 He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed.
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A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
26 He who keeps back grain will be cursed by the people; but a blessing will be on the head of him who lets them have it for a price.
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People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
27 He who, with all his heart, goes after what is good is searching for grace; but he who is looking for trouble will get it.
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Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.
28 He who puts his faith in wealth will come to nothing; but the upright man will be full of growth like the green leaf.
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Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
29 The troubler of his house will have the wind for his heritage, and the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
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Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.
30 The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, but violent behaviour takes away souls.
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The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.
31 If the upright man is rewarded on earth, how much more the evil-doer and the sinner!
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If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
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.