The Bible in Basic English BBE
New International Version NIV
1 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
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The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
2 Wealth which comes from sin is of no profit, but righteousness gives salvation from death.
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Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.
3 The Lord will not let the upright be in need of food, but he puts far from him the desire of the evil-doers.
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The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
4 He who is slow in his work becomes poor, but the hand of the ready worker gets in wealth.
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Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.
5 He who in summer gets together his store is a son who does wisely; but he who takes his rest when the grain is being cut is a son causing shame.
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He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
6 Blessings are on the head of the upright, but the face of sinners will be covered with sorrow.
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Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
7 The memory of the upright is a blessing, but the name of the evil-doer will be turned to dust.
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The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise-hearted man will let himself be ruled, but the man whose talk is foolish will have a fall.
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The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
9 He whose ways are upright will go safely, but he whose ways are twisted will be made low.
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Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
10 He who makes signs with his eyes is a cause of trouble, but he who makes a man see his errors is a cause of peace.
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Whoever winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.
11 The mouth of the upright man is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the evil-doer is a bitter cup.
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The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hate is a cause of violent acts, but all errors are covered up by love.
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Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.
13 In the lips of him who has knowledge wisdom is seen; but a rod is ready for the back of him who is without sense.
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Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.
14 Knowledge is stored up by the wise, but the mouth of the foolish man is a destruction which is near.
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The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
15 The property of the man of wealth is his strong town: the poor man's need is his destruction.
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The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
16 The work of the upright gives life: the increase of the evil-doer is a cause of sin.
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The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.
17 He who takes note of teaching is a way of life, but he who gives up training is a cause of error.
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Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
18 Hate is covered up by the lips of the upright man, but he who lets out evil about another is foolish.
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Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.
19 Where there is much talk there will be no end to sin, but he who keeps his mouth shut does wisely.
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Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.
20 The tongue of the upright man is like tested silver: the heart of the evil-doer is of little value.
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The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.
21 The lips of the upright man give food to men, but the foolish come to death for need of sense.
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The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.
22 The blessing of the Lord gives wealth: hard work makes it no greater.
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The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it.
23 It is sport to the foolish man to do evil, but the man of good sense takes delight in wisdom.
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A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.
24 The thing feared by the evil-doer will come to him, but the upright man will get his desire.
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What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the righteous desire will be granted.
25 When the storm-wind is past, the sinner is seen no longer, but the upright man is safe for ever.
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When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.
26 Like acid drink to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes, so is the hater of work to those who send him.
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As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so are sluggards to those who send them.
27 The fear of the Lord gives long life, but the years of the evil-doer will be cut short.
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The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28 The hope of the upright man will give joy, but the waiting of the evil-doer will have its end in sorrow.
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The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
29 The way of the Lord is a strong tower for the upright man, but destruction to the workers of evil.
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The way of the LORD is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.
30 The upright man will never be moved, but evil-doers will not have a safe resting-place in the land.
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The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.
31 The mouth of the upright man is budding with wisdom, but the twisted tongue will be cut off.
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From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced.
32 The lips of the upright man have knowledge of what is pleasing, but twisted are the mouths of evil-doers.
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The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.
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.