New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
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Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
2 The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion; anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.
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The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
3 It is honorable to refrain from strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
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It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
4 The lazy person does not plow in season; harvest comes, and there is nothing to be found.
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The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
5 The purposes in the human mind are like deep water, but the intelligent will draw them out.
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The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
6 Many proclaim themselves loyal, but who can find one worthy of trust?
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Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
7 The righteous walk in integrity— happy are the children who follow them!
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An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.
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A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, "I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin"?
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Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
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Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
11 Even children make themselves known by their acts, by whether what they do is pure and right.
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Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye— the Lord has made them both.
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The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
13 Do not love sleep, or else you will come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
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Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
14 "Bad, bad," says the buyer, then goes away and boasts.
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A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
15 There is gold, and abundance of costly stones; but the lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel.
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There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
16 Take the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger; seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners.
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Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet, but afterward the mouth will be full of gravel.
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Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
18 Plans are established by taking advice; wage war by following wise guidance.
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Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
19 A gossip reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a babbler.
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He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
20 If you curse father or mother, your lamp will go out in utter darkness.
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If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
21 An estate quickly acquired in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
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A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
22 Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the Lord, and he will help you.
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Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
23 Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
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Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 All our steps are ordered by the Lord; how then can we understand our own ways?
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A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
25 It is a snare for one to say rashly, "It is holy," and begin to reflect only after making a vow.
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It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
26 A wise king winnows the wicked, and drives the wheel over them.
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A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
27 The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord, searching every inmost part.
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The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
28 Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by righteousness.
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Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
29 The glory of youths is their strength, but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair.
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The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil; beatings make clean the innermost parts.
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By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
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.