New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.
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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 deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the Lord 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 righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
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To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of the wicked—are 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 surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to 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 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare 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 do what is just.
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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 The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct 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 in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a contentious 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 souls of the wicked desire evil; their neighbors find no mercy in their eyes.
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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 scoffer is punished, the simple become wiser; when the wise are instructed, they increase in 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 casts the wicked down to ruin.
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The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction.
13 If you close your ear to the cry of the poor, you will cry out and not be heard.
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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 gift in secret averts anger; and a concealed bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
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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 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but dismay to 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 Whoever wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
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The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will suffer want; whoever loves wine and oil will not be 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 is a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless 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 a desert land than with a contentious and fretful wife.
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It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman.
20 Precious treasure remains in the house of the wise, but the fool 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 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honor.
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He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour.
22 One wise person went up against a city of warriors and brought down the stronghold in which they trusted.
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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 To watch over mouth and tongue is to keep out of trouble.
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He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 The proud, haughty person, named "Scoffer," acts with arrogant pride.
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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 The craving of the lazy person is fatal, for lazy hands refuse to labor.
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The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work.
26 All day long the wicked covet, but the righteous give and do not hold 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 brought with evil intent.
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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 good listener will testify successfully.
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A false witness will be cut off, ...
29 The wicked put on a bold face, but the upright give thought to their 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, no understanding, no counsel, can avail against the Lord.
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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 the victory belongs to the Lord.
31
The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.
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.