New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but an accurate weight is his delight.
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Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with the humble.
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When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
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The righteousness of the upright will be their guide, but the twisted ways of the false will be their destruction.
4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
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Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness keeps a man safe from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless keeps their ways straight, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
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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.
6 The righteousness of the upright saves them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their schemes.
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The righteousness of the upright will be their salvation, but the false will themselves be taken in their evil designs.
7 When the wicked die, their hope perishes, and the expectation of the godless comes to nothing.
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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.
8 The righteous are delivered from trouble, and the wicked get into it instead.
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The upright man is taken out of trouble, and in his place comes the sinner.
9 With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbors, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
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With his mouth the evil man sends destruction on his neighbour; but through knowledge the upright are taken out of trouble.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
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When things go well for the upright man, all the town is glad; at the death of sinners, there are cries of joy.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
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By the blessing of the upright man the town is made great, but it is overturned by the mouth of the evil-doer.
12 Whoever belittles another lacks sense, but an intelligent person remains silent.
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He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet.
13 A gossip goes about telling secrets, but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.
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He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered.
14 Where there is no guidance, a nation falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
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When there is no helping suggestion the people will have a fall, but with a number of wise guides they will be safe.
15 To guarantee loans for a stranger brings trouble, but there is safety in refusing to do so.
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He who makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe.
16 A gracious woman gets honor, but she who hates virtue is covered with shame. The timid become destitute, but the aggressive gain riches.
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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.
17 Those who are kind reward themselves, but the cruel do themselves harm.
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The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.
18 The wicked earn no real gain, but those who sow righteousness get a true reward.
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The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness.
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but whoever pursues evil will die.
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So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself.
20 Crooked minds are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight.
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The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight
21 Be assured, the wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will escape.
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Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from punishment, but the seed of the upright man will be safe.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without good sense.
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Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
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The desire of the upright man is only for good, but wrath is waiting for the evil-doer.
24 Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want.
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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.
25 A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water.
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He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed.
26 The people curse those who hold back grain, but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.
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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.
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to the one who searches for it.
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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.
28 Those who trust in their riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.
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He who puts his faith in wealth will come to nothing; but the upright man will be full of growth like the green leaf.
29 Those who trouble their households will inherit wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.
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The troubler of his house will have the wind for his heritage, and the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, but violence takes lives away.
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The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, but violent behaviour takes away souls.
31 If the righteous are repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
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If the upright man is rewarded on earth, how much more the evil-doer and the sinner!
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.