The Bible in Basic English BBE
New International Version NIV
1 Wisdom is building her house, but the foolish woman is pulling it down with her hands.
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The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
2 He who goes on his way in righteousness has before him the fear of the Lord; but he whose ways are twisted gives him no honour.
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Whoever fears the LORD walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways.
3 In the mouth of the foolish man is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will keep them safe.
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A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where there are no oxen, their food-place is clean; but much increase comes through the strength of the ox.
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Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.
5 A true witness does not say what is false, but a false witness is breathing out deceit.
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An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.
6 The hater of authority, searching for wisdom, does not get it; but knowledge comes readily to the open-minded man.
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The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
7 Go away from the foolish man, for you will not see the lips of knowledge.
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Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips.
8 The wisdom of the man of good sense makes his way clear; but the unwise behaviour of the foolish is deceit.
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The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.
9 In the tents of those hating authority there is error, but in the house of the upright man there is grace.
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Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.
10 No one has knowledge of a man's grief but himself; and a strange person has no part in his joy.
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Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.
11 The house of the sinner will be overturned, but the tent of the upright man will do well.
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The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.
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There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
13 Even while laughing the heart may be sad; and after joy comes sorrow.
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Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief.
14 He whose heart is turned away will have the reward of his ways in full measure; but a good man will have the reward of his doings.
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The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs.
15 The simple man has faith in every word, but the man of good sense gives thought to his footsteps.
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The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.
16 The wise man, fearing, keeps himself from evil; but the foolish man goes on in his pride, with no thought of danger.
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The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
17 He who is quickly angry will do what is foolish, but the man of good sense will have quiet.
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A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.
18 Foolish behaviour is the heritage of the simple, but men of good sense are crowned with knowledge.
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The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The knees of the evil are bent before the good; and sinners go down in the dust at the doors of the upright.
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Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor man is hated even by his neighbour, but the man of wealth has numbers of friends.
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The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.
21 He who has no respect for his neighbour is a sinner, but he who has pity for the poor is happy.
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It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.
22 Will not the designers of evil come into error? But mercy and good faith are for the designers of good.
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Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.
23 In all hard work there is profit, but talk only makes a man poor.
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All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 Their wisdom is a crown to the wise, but their foolish behaviour is round the head of the unwise.
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The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields folly.
25 A true witness is the saviour of lives; but he who says false things is a cause of deceit.
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A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.
26 For him in whose heart is the fear of the Lord there is strong hope: and his children will have a safe place.
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Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, by which one may be turned from the nets of death.
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The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.
28 A king's glory is in the number of his people: and for need of people a ruler may come to destruction.
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A large population is a king’s glory, but without subjects a prince is ruined.
29 He who is slow to be angry has great good sense; but he whose spirit is over-quick gives support to what is foolish.
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Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
30 A quiet mind is the life of the body, but envy is a disease in the bones.
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A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
31 He who is hard on the poor puts shame on his Maker; but he who has mercy on those who are in need gives him honour.
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Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
32 The sinner is overturned in his evil-doing, but the upright man has hope in his righteousness.
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When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.
33 Wisdom has her resting-place in the mind of the wise, but she is not seen among the foolish.
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Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known.
34 By righteousness a nation is lifted up, but sin is a cause of shame to the peoples.
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Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.
35 The king has pleasure in a servant who does wisely, but his wrath is against him who is a cause of shame.
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A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant arouses his fury.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.