The Bible in Basic English BBE
Good News Translation GNT
1 The upright man goes to his death, and no one gives a thought to it; and god-fearing men are taken away, and no one is troubled by it; for the upright man is taken away because of evil-doing, and goes into peace.
1
Good people die, and no one understands or even cares. But when they die, no calamity can hurt them.
2 They are at rest in their last resting-places, every one going straight before him.
2
Those who live good lives find peace and rest in death.
3 But come near, you sons of her who is wise in secret arts, the seed of her who is false to her husband, and of the loose woman.
3
Come here to be judged, you sinners! You are no better than sorcerers, adulterers, and prostitutes.
4 Of whom do you make sport? against whom is your mouth open wide and your tongue put out? are you not uncontrolled children, a false seed,
4
Who are you making fun of? Who are you liars jeering at?
5 You who are burning with evil desire among the oaks, under every green tree; putting children to death in the valleys, under the cracks of the rocks?
5
You worship the fertility gods by having sex under those sacred trees of yours. You offer your children as sacrifices in the rocky caves near stream beds.
6 Among the smooth stones of the valley is your heritage; they, even they, are your part: even to them have you made a drink offering and a meal offering. Is it possible for such things to be overlooked by me?
6
You take smooth stones from there and worship them as gods. You pour out wine as offerings to them and bring them grain offerings. Do you think I am pleased with all this?
7 You have put your bed on a high mountain: there you went up to make your offering.
7
You go to the high mountains to offer sacrifices and have sex.
8 And on the back of the doors and on the pillars you have put your sign: for you have been false to me with another; you have made your bed wide, and made an agreement with them; you had a desire for their bed where you saw it
8
You set up your obscene idols just inside your front doors. You forsake me; you take off your clothes and climb in your large beds with your lovers, whom you pay to sleep with you. And there you satisfy your lust.
9 And you went to Melech with oil and much perfume, and you sent your representatives far off, and went as low as the underworld.
9
You put on your perfumes and ointments and go to worship the god Molech. To find gods to worship, you send messengers far and wide, even to the world of the dead.
10 You were tired with your long journeys; but you did not say, There is no hope: you got new strength, and so you were not feeble.
10
You wear yourselves out looking for other gods, but you never give up. You think your obscene idols give you strength, and so you never grow weak.
11 And of whom were you in fear, so that you were false, and did not keep me in mind, or give thought to it? Have I not been quiet, keeping myself secret, and so you were not in fear of me?
11
The Lord says, "Who are these gods that make you afraid, so that you tell me lies and forget me completely? Have you stopped honoring me because I have kept silent for so long?
12 I will make clear what your righteousness is like and your works; you will have no profit in them.
12
You think that what you do is right, but I will expose your conduct, and your idols will not be able to help you.
13 Your false gods will not keep you safe in answer to your cry; but the wind will take them, they will be gone like a breath: but he who puts his hope in me will take the land, and will have my holy mountain as his heritage.
13
When you cry for help, let those idols of yours save you! A puff of wind will carry them off! But those who trust in me will live in the land and will worship me in my Temple."
14 And I will say, Make it high, make it high, get ready the way, take the stones out of the way of my people.
14
The Lord says, "Let my people return to me. Remove every obstacle from their path! Build the road and make it ready!
15 For this is the word of him who is high and lifted up, whose resting-place is eternal, whose name is Holy: my resting-place is in the high and holy place, and with him who is crushed and poor in spirit, to give life to the spirit of the poor, and to make strong the heart of the crushed.
15
"I am the high and holy God, who lives forever. I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and repentant, so that I can restore their confidence and hope.
16 For I will not give punishment for ever, or be angry without end: for from me breath goes out; and I it was who made the souls.
16
I gave my people life, and I will not continue to accuse them or be angry with them forever.
17 I was quickly angry with his evil ways, and sent punishment on him, veiling my face in wrath: and he went on, turning his heart from me.
17
I was angry with them because of their sin and greed, and so I punished them and abandoned them. But they were stubborn and kept on going their own way.
18 I have seen his ways, and I will make him well: I will give him rest, comforting him and his people who are sad.
18
"I have seen how they acted, but I will heal them. I will lead them and help them, and I will comfort those who mourn.
19 I will give the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is near and to him who is far off, says the Lord; and I will make him well.
19
I offer peace to all, both near and far! I will heal my people.
20 But the evil-doers are like the troubled sea, for which there is no rest, and its waters send up earth and waste.
20
But evil people are like the restless sea, whose waves never stop rolling in, bringing filth and muck.
21 There is no peace, says my God, for the evil-doers.
21
There is no safety for sinners," says the Lord.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.