The Bible in Basic English BBE
Good News Translation GNT
1 Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight.
1
The Lord hates people who use dishonest scales. He is happy with honest weights.
2 When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.
2
People who are proud will soon be disgraced. It is wiser to be modest.
3 The righteousness of the upright will be their guide, but the twisted ways of the false will be their destruction.
3
If you are good, you are guided by honesty. People who can't be trusted are destroyed by their own dishonesty.
4 Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness keeps a man safe from death.
4
Riches will do you no good on the day you face death, but honesty can save your life.
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.
5
Honesty makes a good person's life easier, but the wicked will cause their own downfall.
6 The righteousness of the upright will be their salvation, but the false will themselves be taken in their evil designs.
6
Righteousness rescues those who are honest, but those who can't be trusted are trapped by their own greed.
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.
7
When the wicked die, their hope dies with them. Confidence placed in riches comes to nothing.
8 The upright man is taken out of trouble, and in his place comes the sinner.
8
The righteous are protected from trouble; it comes to 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.
9
You can be ruined by the talk of godless people, but the wisdom of the righteous can save you.
10 When things go well for the upright man, all the town is glad; at the death of sinners, there are cries of joy.
10
A city is happy when honest people have good fortune, and there are joyful shouts when the wicked die.
11 By the blessing of the upright man the town is made great, but it is overturned by the mouth of the evil-doer.
11
A city becomes great when the righteous give it their blessing; but a city is brought to ruin by the words of the wicked.
12 He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet.
12
It is foolish to speak scornfully of others. If you are smart, you will keep quiet.
13 He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered.
13
No one who gossips can be trusted with a secret, but you can put confidence in someone who is trustworthy.
14 When there is no helping suggestion the people will have a fall, but with a number of wise guides they will be safe.
14
A nation will fall if it has no guidance. Many advisers mean security.
15 He who makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe.
15
If you promise to pay a stranger's debt, you will regret it. You are better off if you don't get involved.
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.
16
A gracious woman is respected, but a woman without virtue is a disgrace. Lazy people will never have money, but aggressive people will get rich.
17 The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.
17
You do yourself a favor when you are kind. If you are cruel, you only hurt yourself.
18 The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness.
18
Wicked people do not really gain anything, but if you do what is right, you are certain to be rewarded.
19 So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself.
19
Anyone who is determined to do right will live, but anyone who insists on doing wrong will die.
20 The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight
20
The Lord hates evil-minded people, but loves those who do right.
21 Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from punishment, but the seed of the upright man will be safe.
21
You can be sure that evil people will be punished, but the righteous will escape.
22 Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense.
22
Beauty in a woman without good judgment is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.
23 The desire of the upright man is only for good, but wrath is waiting for the evil-doer.
23
What good people want always results in good; when the wicked get what they want, everyone is angry.
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.
24
Some people spend their money freely and still grow richer. Others are cautious, and yet grow poorer.
25 He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed.
25
Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped.
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.
26
People curse someone who hoards grain, waiting for a higher price, but they praise the one who puts it up for sale.
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.
27
If your goals are good, you will be respected, but if you are looking for trouble, that is what you will get.
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.
28
Those who depend on their wealth will fall like the leaves of autumn, but the righteous will prosper like the leaves of summer.
29 The troubler of his house will have the wind for his heritage, and the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
29
Those who bring trouble on their families will have nothing at the end. Foolish people will always be servants to the wise.
30 The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, but violent behaviour takes away souls.
30
Righteousness gives life, but violence takes it away.
31 If the upright man is rewarded on earth, how much more the evil-doer and the sinner!
31
Those who are good are rewarded here on earth, so you can be sure that wicked and sinful people will be punished.
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.