The Bible in Basic English BBE
Good News Translation GNT
1 A wise son is a lover of teaching, but the ears of the haters of authority are shut to sharp words.
1
Wise children pay attention when their parents correct them, but arrogant people never admit they are wrong.
2 A man will get good from the fruit of his lips, but the desire of the false is for violent acts.
2
Good people will be rewarded for what they say, but those who are deceitful are hungry for violence.
3 He who keeps a watch on his mouth keeps his life; but he whose lips are open wide will have destruction.
3
Be careful what you say and protect your life. A careless talker destroys himself.
4 The hater of work does not get his desires, but the soul of the hard workers will be made fat.
4
No matter how much a lazy person may want something, he will never get it. A hard worker will get everything he wants.
5 The upright man is a hater of false words: the evil-doer gets a bad name and is put to shame.
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Honest people hate lies, but the words of wicked people are shameful and disgraceful.
6 Righteousness keeps safe him whose way is without error, but evil-doers are overturned by sin.
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Righteousness protects the innocent; wickedness is the downfall of sinners.
7 A man may be acting as if he had wealth, but have nothing; another may seem poor, but have great wealth.
7
Some people pretend to be rich, but have nothing. Others pretend to be poor, but own a fortune.
8 A man will give his wealth in exchange for his life; but the poor will not give ear to sharp words.
8
The rich have to use their money to save their lives, but no one threatens the poor.
9 There is a glad dawn for the upright man, but the light of the sinner will be put out.
9
The righteous are like a light shining brightly; the wicked are like a lamp flickering out.
10 The only effect of pride is fighting; but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.
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Arrogance causes nothing but trouble. It is wiser to ask for advice.
11 Wealth quickly got will become less; but he who gets a store by the work of his hands will have it increased.
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The more easily you get your wealth, the sooner you will lose it. The harder it is to earn, the more you will have.
12 Hope put off is a weariness to the heart; but when what is desired comes, it is a tree of life.
12
When hope is crushed, the heart is crushed, but a wish come true fills you with joy.
13 He who makes sport of the word will come to destruction, but the respecter of the law will be rewarded.
13
If you refuse good advice, you are asking for trouble; follow it and you are safe.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning men away from the nets of death.
14
The teachings of the wise are a fountain of life; they will help you escape when your life is in danger.
15 Wise behaviour gets approval, but the way of the false is their destruction.
15
Intelligence wins respect, but those who can't be trusted are on the road to ruin.
16 A sharp man does everything with knowledge, but a foolish man makes clear his foolish thoughts.
16
Sensible people always think before they act, but stupid people advertise their ignorance.
17 A man taking false news is a cause of trouble, but he who gives news rightly makes things well.
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Unreliable messengers cause trouble, but those who can be trusted bring peace.
18 Need and shame will be the fate of him who is uncontrolled by training; but he who takes note of teaching will be honoured.
18
Someone who will not learn will be poor and disgraced. Anyone who listens to correction is respected.
19 To get one's desire is sweet to the soul, but to give up evil is disgusting to the foolish.
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How good it is to get what you want! Stupid people refuse to turn away from evil.
20 Go with wise men and be wise: but he who keeps company with the foolish will be broken.
20
Keep company with the wise and you will become wise. If you make friends with stupid people, you will be ruined.
21 Evil will overtake sinners, but the upright will be rewarded with good.
21
Trouble follows sinners everywhere, but righteous people will be rewarded with good things.
22 The heritage of the good man is handed down to his children's children; and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the upright man.
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Good people will have wealth to leave to their grandchildren, but the wealth of sinners will go to the righteous.
23 There is much food in the ploughed land of the poor; but it is taken away by wrongdoing.
23
Unused fields could yield plenty of food for the poor, but unjust people keep them from being farmed.
24 He who keeps back his rod is unkind to his son: the loving father gives punishment with care.
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If you don't punish your children, you don't love them. If you do love them, you will correct them.
25 The upright man has food to the full measure of his desire, but there will be no food for the stomach of evil-doers.
25
The righteous have enough to eat, but the wicked are always hungry.
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.