The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 A son who heeds his father's discipline is wise, but a scoffer doesn't listen to rebuke.
1
A wise son is a lover of teaching, but the ears of the haters of authority are shut to sharp words.
2 A [good] man enjoys good as a result of what he says, but the essence of the treacherous is violence.
2
A man will get good from the fruit of his lips, but the desire of the false is for violent acts.
3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but one who talks too much comes to ruin.
3
He who keeps a watch on his mouth keeps his life; but he whose lips are open wide will have destruction.
4 The lazy person wants but doesn't have; the diligent get their desires filled.
4
The hater of work does not get his desires, but the soul of the hard workers will be made fat.
5 A righteous person hates lying, but the wicked is vile and disgraceful.
5
The upright man is a hater of false words: the evil-doer gets a bad name and is put to shame.
6 Righteousness protects him whose way is honest, but wickedness brings down the sinner.
6
Righteousness keeps safe him whose way is without error, but evil-doers are overturned by sin.
7 There are those with nothing who pretend they are rich, also those with great wealth who pretend they are poor.
7
A man may be acting as if he had wealth, but have nothing; another may seem poor, but have great wealth.
8 The rich man may have to ransom his life, but a poor man gets no threats.
8
A man will give his wealth in exchange for his life; but the poor will not give ear to sharp words.
9 The light of the righteous [shines] joyfully, but the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.
9
There is a glad dawn for the upright man, but the light of the sinner will be put out.
10 Insolence produces only strife, but wisdom is found with those who take advice.
10
The only effect of pride is fighting; but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.
11 Wealth gotten by worthless means dwindles away, but he who amasses it by hard work will increase it.
11
Wealth quickly got will become less; but he who gets a store by the work of his hands will have it increased.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
12
Hope put off is a weariness to the heart; but when what is desired comes, it is a tree of life.
13 He who despises a word will suffer for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded.
13
He who makes sport of the word will come to destruction, but the respecter of the law will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of a wise man is a fountain of life, enabling one to avoid deadly traps.
14
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning men away from the nets of death.
15 Good common sense produces grace, but the way of the treacherous is rough.
15
Wise behaviour gets approval, but the way of the false is their destruction.
16 Every cautious person acts with knowledge, but a fool parades his folly.
16
A sharp man does everything with knowledge, but a foolish man makes clear his foolish thoughts.
17 A wicked messenger falls into evil, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
17
A man taking false news is a cause of trouble, but he who gives news rightly makes things well.
18 Poverty and shame are for him who won't be taught, but he who heeds reproof will be honored.
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.
19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning away from evil is abhorrent to fools.
19
To get one's desire is sweet to the soul, but to give up evil is disgusting to the foolish.
20 He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will suffer.
20
Go with wise men and be wise: but he who keeps company with the foolish will be broken.
21 Evil pursues sinners, but prosperity will reward the righteous.
21
Evil will overtake sinners, but the upright will be rewarded with good.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren, but the wealth of a sinner is stored up for the righteous.
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.
23 The fields of the poor may yield much food, but some are swept away because of injustice.
23
There is much food in the ploughed land of the poor; but it is taken away by wrongdoing.
24 He who fails to use a stick hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
24
He who keeps back his rod is unkind to his son: the loving father gives punishment with care.
25 The righteous person eats his fill, but the belly of the wicked is empty.
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.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.