The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 The king's heart in ADONAI's hand is like streams of water -he directs it wherever he pleases.
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The king's heart in the hands of the Lord is like the water streams, and by him it is turned in any direction at his pleasure.
2 All a person's ways are right in his own view, but ADONAI weighs the heart.
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Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
3 To do what is right and just is more pleasing to ADONAI than sacrifice.
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To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering.
4 Haughty looks, a proud heart -what the wicked plow is sin.
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A high look and a heart of pride, *** of the evil-doer is sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead only to abundance; but all who rush in arrive only at want.
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The purposes of the man of industry have their outcome only in wealth; but one who is over-quick in acting will only come to be in need.
6 A fortune gained by a lying tongue is vapor dispersed [by] seekers of death.
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He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to act justly.
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By their violent acts the evil-doers will be pulled away, because they have no desire to do what is right.
8 A criminal's conduct is crooked, but the work of the pure is right.
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Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is clean, his work is upright.
9 It is better to live on a corner of the roof than to share the house with a nagging wife.
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It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
10 The wicked is set on evil; he doesn't pity even his neighbor.
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The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his neighbour.
11 When a scorner is punished, the simple become wiser; and when the wise is instructed, he takes hold of knowledge.
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When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.
12 The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he overthrows the wicked to their ruin.
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The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction.
13 Whoever stops up his ears at the cry of the poor will himself cry, but not be answered.
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He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help.
14 A secret gift allays anger, and a bribe under the cloak the strongest fury.
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By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe.
15 Acting justly is a joy for the righteous but it terrifies evildoers.
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It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil.
16 The person who strays from the way of common sense will come to rest in the company of the dead.
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The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades.
17 Pleasure-lovers will suffer want; he who loves wine and oil won't get rich.
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The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.
18 The wicked serve as a ransom for the righteous, and likewise the perfidious for the upright.
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The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright.
19 It is better to live in the desert than with a nagging, irritable wife.
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It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman.
20 In the home of the wise are fine treasures and oil, but a fool quickly devours it.
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There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man.
21 He who pursues righteousness and kindness finds life, prosperity and honor.
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He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour.
22 A wise man can go up into a city of warriors and undermine the strength in which it trusts.
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A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
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He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 "Scoffer" is what you call a proud, insolent person who acts with overweening conceit.
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The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted; he is acting in an outburst of pride.
25 A lazy man's craving will kill him, because his hands refuse to work -
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The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work.
26 he covets greedily all day long; but a righteous person gives without holding back.
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All the day the sinner goes after his desire: but the upright man gives freely, keeping nothing back.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with vile motives.
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The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose!
28 A lying witness is doomed, but one who heard [what was said] will testify successfully.
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A false witness will be cut off, ...
29 A wicked man puts on a bold face, whereas the upright prepares his ways.
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The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he gives thought to his way.
30 No wisdom, discernment or counsel succeeds against ADONAI.
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Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord.
31 A horse may be prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from ADONAI.
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The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.
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.