New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
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 dispenses knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour 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 the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on 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 gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in 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 a parent's instruction, but the one who heeds admonition 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 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
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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 minds of fools.
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The lips of the wise keep knowledge, but the heart of the foolish man is not right.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
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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 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves the one 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 There is severe discipline for one who forsakes the way, but one who hates a rebuke 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 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord, how much more human 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 Scoffers do not like to be rebuked; they will not go to the wise.
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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 cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.
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A glad heart makes a shining face, but by the sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
14 The mind of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed 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 All the days of the poor are hard, but a cheerful heart has a continual 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 is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.
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Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great wealth together with trouble.
17 Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it.
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Better is a simple meal where love is, than a fat ox and hate with it.
18 Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife, but those who are slow to anger calm contention.
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An angry man makes men come to blows, but he who is slow to get angry puts an end to fighting.
19 The way of the lazy is overgrown with 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 child makes a glad father, but the foolish despise their mothers.
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A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man has no respect for his mother.
21 Folly is a joy to one who has no sense, but a person of understanding walks 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 counsel, 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 To make an apt answer is a joy to anyone, and a word in season, how good it is!
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A man has joy in the answer of his mouth: and a word at the right time, how good it is!
24 For the wise the path of life leads upward, in order to avoid Sheol below.
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Acting wisely is the way of life, guiding a man away from the underworld.
25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but maintains 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 Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure.
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Evil designs are disgusting to the Lord, but the words of the clean-hearted are pleasing.
27 Those who are greedy for unjust gain make trouble for their households, but those who hate 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 ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.
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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 The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears 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 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the body.
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The light of the eyes is a joy to the heart, and good news makes the bones fat.
31 The ear that heeds wholesome admonition will lodge among the wise.
31
The man whose ear is open to the teaching of life will have his place among the wise.
32 Those who ignore instruction despise themselves, but those who heed admonition gain understanding.
32
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 fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility goes before honor.
33
The fear of the Lord is the teaching of wisdom; and a low opinion of oneself goes before honour.
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.