New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.
1
A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord is the maker of them all.
2
The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face: the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 The clever see danger and hide; but the simple go on, and suffer for it.
3
The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.
4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.
4
The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; the cautious will keep far from them.
5
Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be far from them.
6 Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.
6
If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
7
The man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who gets into debt is a servant to his creditor.
8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of anger will fail.
8
By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken.
9 Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor.
9
He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Drive out a scoffer, and strife goes out; quarreling and abuse will cease.
10
Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end.
11 Those who love a pure heart and are gracious in speech will have the king as a friend.
11
He whose heart is clean is dear to the Lord; for the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the faithless.
12
The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned.
13 The lazy person says, "There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!"
13
The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death in the streets.
14 The mouth of a loose woman is a deep pit; he with whom the Lord is angry falls into it.
14
The mouth of strange women is a deep hole: he with whom the Lord is angry will go down into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a boy, but the rod of discipline drives it far away.
15
Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him.
16 Oppressing the poor in order to enrich oneself, and giving to the rich, will lead only to loss.
16
He who is cruel to the poor for the purpose of increasing his profit, and he who gives to the man of wealth, will only come to be in need.
17 The words of the wise: Incline your ear and hear my words, and apply your mind to my teaching;
17
Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge.
18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
18
For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today—yes, to you.
19
So that your faith may be in the Lord, I have made them clear to you this day, even to you.
20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings of admonition and knowledge,
20
Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge,
21 to show you what is right and true, so that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?
21
To make you see how certain are true words, so that you may give a true answer to those who put questions to you?
22 Do not rob the poor because they are poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate;
22
Do not take away the property of the poor man because he is poor, or be cruel to the crushed ones when they come before the judge:
23 for the Lord pleads their cause and despoils of life those who despoil them.
23
For the Lord will give support to their cause, and take the life of those who take their goods.
24 Make no friends with those given to anger, and do not associate with hotheads,
24
Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man:
25 or you may learn their ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
25
For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul.
26 Do not be one of those who give pledges, who become surety for debts.
26
Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts:
27 If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
27
If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you.
28 Do not remove the ancient landmark that your ancestors set up.
28
Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place.
29 Do you see those who are skillful in their work? They will serve kings; they will not serve common people.
29
Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons.
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.