The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 A gentle response deflects fury, but a harsh word makes tempers rise.
1
By a soft answer wrath is turned away, but a bitter word is a cause of angry feelings.
2 The tongue of the wise presents knowledge well, but the mouth of a fool spews out folly.
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Knowledge is dropping from the tongue of the wise; but from the mouth of the foolish comes a stream of foolish words.
3 The eyes of ADONAI are everywhere, watching the evil and the good.
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The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but when it twists things, it breaks the spirit.
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A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father's discipline, but he who heeds warnings is prudent.
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A foolish man puts no value on his father's training; but he who has respect for teaching has good sense.
6 The home of the righteous is a storehouse of treasure, but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.
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In the house of the upright man there is a great store of wealth; but in the profits of the sinner there is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.
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The lips of the wise keep knowledge, but the heart of the foolish man is not right.
8 ADONAI detests the sacrifices of the wicked but delights in the prayers of the upright.
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The offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright man is his delight.
9 ADONAI detests the way of the wicked but loves anyone who pursues righteousness.
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The way of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but he who goes after righteousness is dear to him.
10 Discipline is severe for one who leaves the way, and whoever can't stand correction will die.
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There is bitter punishment for him who is turned from the way; and death will be the fate of the hater of teaching.
11 Sh'ol and Abaddon lie open to ADONAI; so how much more people's hearts!
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Before the Lord are the underworld and destruction: how much more, then, the hearts of the children of men!
12 A scorner does not like being corrected; he won't go to the wise [for advice].
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The hater of authority has no love for teaching: he will not go to the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a face happy, but heartache breaks the spirit.
13
A glad heart makes a shining face, but by the sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14 The mind of a person with discernment seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
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The heart of the man of good sense goes in search of knowledge, but foolish things are the food of the unwise.
15 For the poor, every day is hard; but the good-hearted have a perpetual feast.
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All the days of the troubled are evil; but he whose heart is glad has an unending feast.
16 Better little with the fear of ADONAI than great wealth coupled with worry.
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Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great wealth together with trouble.
17 Better a vegetable dinner with love than a stall-fattened ox with hate.
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Better is a simple meal where love is, than a fat ox and hate with it.
18 Hot-tempered people stir up strife, but patient people quiet quarrels.
18
An angry man makes men come to blows, but he who is slow to get angry puts an end to fighting.
19 The lazy person's way seems overgrown by thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.
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Thorns are round the way of the hater of work; but the road of the hard worker becomes a highway.
20 A wise son is a joy to his father, and only a fool despises his mother.
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A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man has no respect for his mother.
21 Folly appeals to one who lacks sense, but a person of discernment goes straight ahead.
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Foolish behaviour is joy to the unwise; but a man of good sense makes his way straight.
22 Without deliberation, plans go wrong; but with many advisers, they succeed.
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Where there are no wise suggestions, purposes come to nothing; but by a number of wise guides they are made certain.
23 People take pleasure in anything they say; but a word at the right time, how good it is!
23
A man has joy in the answer of his mouth: and a word at the right time, how good it is!
24 For the prudent, the path of life goes upward; thus he avoids Sh'ol below.
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Acting wisely is the way of life, guiding a man away from the underworld.
25 ADONAI will pull down the houses of the proud, but preserves intact the widow's boundaries.
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The house of the man of pride will be uprooted by the Lord, but he will make safe the heritage of the widow.
26 ADONAI detests plans to do evil, but kind words are pure.
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Evil designs are disgusting to the Lord, but the words of the clean-hearted are pleasing.
27 The greedy for gain brings trouble to his home, but he who hates bribes will live.
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He whose desires are fixed on profit is a cause of trouble to his family; but he who has no desire for offerings will have life.
28 The mind of the righteous thinks before speaking, but the mouth of the wicked spews out evil stuff.
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The heart of the upright gives thought to his answer; but from the mouth of the evil-doer comes a stream of evil things.
29 ADONAI is far from the wicked, but he listens to the prayer of the righteous.
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The Lord is far from sinners, but his ear is open to the prayer of the upright.
30 A cheerful glance brings joy to the heart, and good news invigorates the bones.
30
The light of the eyes is a joy to the heart, and good news makes the bones fat.
31 He who heeds life-giving correction will be at home in the company of the wise.
31
The man whose ear is open to the teaching of life will have his place among the wise.
32 He who spurns discipline detests himself, but he who listens to correction grows in understanding.
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He who will not be controlled by training has no respect for his soul, but he who gives ear to teaching will get wisdom.
33 The discipline of wisdom is fear of ADONAI, so before being honored, a person must be humble.
33
The fear of the Lord is the teaching of wisdom; and a low opinion of oneself goes before honour.
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.