The Bible in Basic English BBE
Orthodox Jewish Bible OJB
1 He who keeps himself separate for his private purpose goes against all good sense.
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8 A man who separates himself seeks his own ta’avah (desire); he defies all tushiyyah (wisdom, sound judgment).
2 A foolish man has no pleasure in good sense, but only to let what is in his heart come to light.
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A kesil (fool) hath no delight in tevunah (understanding), but only in airing out his lev (mind, opinions).
3 When the evil-doer comes, a low opinion comes with him, and with the loss of honour comes shame.
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When the rashah cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with dishonor, cherpah (reproach, disgrace).
4 The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters: the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream.
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The devarim of a man’s mouth are deep mayim; the makor chochmah is a flowing stream.
5 To have respect for the person of the evil-doer is not good, or to give a wrong decision against the upright.
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It is not tov to show partiality to the rashah, to subvert the tzaddik in mishpat.
6 A foolish man's lips are a cause of fighting, and his mouth makes him open to blows.
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The sfatayim (lips) of a kesil enter into contention, and his peh (mouth) inviteth blows.
7 The mouth of a foolish man is his destruction, and his lips are a net for his soul.
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The peh (mouth) of a kesil is his undoing, and his sfatayim (lips) are the mokesh (snare) of his nefesh.
8 The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, and go down into the inner parts of the stomach.
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The devarim of a nirgan (gossip, talebearer, slanderer) are like mitlachamim (delicious tidbits), and they go down into the innermost parts of the beten (belly).
9 He who does not give his mind to his work is brother to him who makes destruction.
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He also that is slack in his work is brother to him that is ba’al mashchit (master of destruction).
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the upright man running into it is safe.
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The Shem of Hashem is a strong migdal (tower), the tzaddik runneth into it, and is safe.
11 The property of a man of wealth is his strong town, and it is as a high wall in the thoughts of his heart.
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The oisher’s wealth is his strong city, and is a high chomah in his own conceit.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is full of pride, and before honour goes a gentle spirit.
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Before shever (destruction) the lev ish is haughty, and before kavod is anavah (humility).
13 To give an answer before hearing is a foolish thing and a cause of shame.
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He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and kelimmah (reproach, shame) unto him.
14 The spirit of a man will be his support when he is ill; but how may a broken spirit be lifted up?
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The ruach ish will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed ruach who can bear?
15 The heart of the man of good sense gets knowledge; the ear of the wise is searching for knowledge.
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The lev of the prudent acquireth da’as, and the ozen of the chachamim seeketh da’as.
16 A man's offering makes room for him, letting him come before great men.
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The mattan adam (gift of a man) openeth the way for him, and bringeth him before gedolim.
17 The man who first puts his cause before the judge seems to be in the right; but then his neighbour comes and puts his cause in its true light.
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He that is harishon (the first) to make his case seemeth tzaddik, but his re’a cometh and doth cross-examine him.
18 The decision of chance puts an end to argument, parting the strong.
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The goral (lot) causeth contentions to cease, and keepeth the mighty apart.
19 A brother wounded is like a strong town, and violent acts are like a locked tower.
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A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and their contentious quarrelings are like the bars of an armon (citadel).
20 With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be full; the produce of his lips will be his in full measure.
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An ish’s beten shall be filled with the fruit of his peh (mouth), and with the produce of his sfatayim (lips) shall he be satisfied.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food.
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Mavet and chayyim are in the power of the lashon, and they that love it shall eat the p’ri (fruit) thereof.
22 Whoever gets a wife gets a good thing, and has the approval of the Lord.
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He who findeth an isha (wife) findeth tov, and obtaineth ratzon (favor) from Hashem.
23 The poor man makes requests for grace, but the man of wealth gives a rough answer.
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The poor useth entreaties, but the oisher answereth roughly.
24 There are friends who may be a man's destruction, but there is a lover who keeps nearer than a brother.
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An ish of many companions may come to ruin, but there is an ohev (friend) that sticketh closer than a brother.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.