New International Version NIV
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.
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Better is the poor man whose ways are upright, than the man of wealth whose ways are twisted.
2 Desire without knowledge is not good— how much more will hasty feet miss the way!
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Further, without knowledge desire is not good; and he who is over-quick in acting goes out of the right way.
3 A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the LORD.
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By his foolish behaviour a man's ways are turned upside down, and his heart is bitter against the Lord.
4 Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.
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Wealth makes a great number of friends; but the poor man is parted from his friend.
5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free.
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A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will not go free.
6 Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.
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Great numbers will make attempts to get the approval of a ruler: and every man is the special friend of him who has something to give.
7 The poor are shunned by all their relatives— how much more do their friends avoid them! Though the poor pursue them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.
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All the brothers of the poor man are against him: how much more do his friends go far from him! ...
8 The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.
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He who gets wisdom has love for his soul: he who keeps good sense will get what is truly good.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish.
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A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will be cut off.
10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
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Material comfort is not good for the foolish; much less for a servant to be put over rulers.
11 A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
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A man's good sense makes him slow to wrath, and the overlooking of wrongdoing is his glory.
12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
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The king's wrath is like the loud cry of a lion, but his approval is like dew on the grass.
13 A foolish child is a father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof.
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A foolish son is the destruction of his father; and the bitter arguments of a wife are like drops of rain falling without end.
14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
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House and wealth are a heritage from fathers, but a wife with good sense is from the Lord.
15 Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry.
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Hate of work sends deep sleep on a man: and he who has no industry will go without food.
16 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.
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He who keeps the law keeps his soul; but death will be the fate of him who takes no note of the word.
17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.
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He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward.
18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.
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Give your son training while there is hope; let not your heart be purposing his death.
19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again.
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A man of great wrath will have to take his punishment: for if you get him out of trouble you will have to do it again.
20 Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.
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Let your ear be open to suggestion and take teaching, so that at the end you may be wise.
21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
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A man's heart may be full of designs, but the purpose of the Lord is unchanging.
22 What a person desires is unfailing love ; better to be poor than a liar.
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The ornament of a man is his mercy, and a poor man is better than one who is false.
23 The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
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The fear of the Lord gives life: and he who has it will have need of nothing; no evil will come his way.
24 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth!
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The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin, and will not even take it to his mouth again.
25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge.
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When blows overtake the man of pride, the simple will get sense; say sharp words to the wise, and knowledge will be made clear to him.
26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace.
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He who is violent to his father, driving away his mother, is a son causing shame and a bad name.
27 Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
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A son who no longer gives attention to teaching is turned away from the words of knowledge.
28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.
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A good-for-nothing witness makes sport of the judge's decision: and the mouth of evil-doers sends out evil like a stream.
29 Penalties are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
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Rods are being made ready for the man of pride, and blows for the back of the foolish.
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.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.