New International Version NIV
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.
1
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 A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart.
2
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 acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
3
To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.
4
A high look and a heart of pride, *** of the evil-doer is sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
5
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 made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.
6
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 drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.
7
By their violent acts the evil-doers will be pulled away, because they have no desire to do what is right.
8 The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
8
Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is clean, his work is upright.
9 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
9
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 crave evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them.
10
The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his neighbour.
11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.
11
When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.
12 The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
12
The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction.
13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.
13
He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help.
14 A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
14
By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe.
15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
15
It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil.
16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.
16
The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
17
The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.
18
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 Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.
19
It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman.
20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.
20
There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man.
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
21
He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour.
22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
22
A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.
23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.
23
He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name— behaves with insolent fury.
24
The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted; he is acting in an outburst of pride.
25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.
25
The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work.
26 All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.
26
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 detestable— how much more so when brought with evil intent!
27
The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose!
28 A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully.
28
A false witness will be cut off, ...
29 The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright give thought to their ways.
29
The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he gives thought to his way.
30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.
30
Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.
31
The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.
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.