New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Do not envy the wicked, nor desire to be with them;
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Have no envy for evil men, or any desire to be with them:
2 for their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of mischief.
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For the purposes of their hearts are destruction, and their lips are talking of trouble.
3 By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;
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The building of a house is by wisdom, and by reason it is made strong:
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
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And by knowledge its rooms are full of all dear and pleasing things.
5 Wise warriors are mightier than strong ones, and those who have knowledge than those who have strength;
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A wise man is strong; and a man of knowledge makes strength greater.
6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
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For by wise guiding you will overcome in war: and in a number of wise guides there is salvation.
7 Wisdom is too high for fools; in the gate they do not open their mouths.
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Wisdom is outside the power of the foolish: he keeps his mouth shut in the public place.
8 Whoever plans to do evil will be called a mischief-maker.
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He whose purposes are bad will be named a man of evil designs.
9 The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to all.
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The purpose of the foolish is sin: and the hater of authority is disgusting to others.
10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength being small;
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If you give way in the day of trouble, your strength is small.
11 if you hold back from rescuing those taken away to death, those who go staggering to the slaughter;
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Be the saviour of those who are given up to death, and do not keep back help from those who are slipping to destruction.
12 if you say, "Look, we did not know this"— does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it? And will he not repay all according to their deeds?
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If you say, See, we had no knowledge of this: does not the tester of hearts give thought to it? and he who keeps your soul, has he no knowledge of it? and will he not give to every man the reward of his work?
13 My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
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My son, take honey, for it is good; and the flowing honey, which is sweet to your taste:
14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, you will find a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
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So let your desire be for wisdom: if you have it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
15 Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against the home of the righteous; do no violence to the place where the righteous live;
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Do not keep a secret watch, O evil-doer, against the fields of the upright man, or send destruction on his resting-place:
16 for though they fall seven times, they will rise again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
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For an upright man, after falling seven times, will get up again: but trouble is the downfall of the evil.
17 Do not rejoice when your enemies fall, and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble,
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Do not be glad at the fall of your hater, and let not your heart have joy at his downfall:
18 or else the Lord will see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from them.
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For fear that the Lord may see it, and it may be evil in his eyes, and his wrath may be turned away from him.
19 Do not fret because of evildoers. Do not envy the wicked;
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Do not be troubled because of evil-doers, or have envy of sinners:
20 for the evil have no future; the lamp of the wicked will go out.
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For there will be no future for the evil man; the light of sinners will be put out.
21 My child, fear the Lord and the king, and do not disobey either of them;
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My son, go in fear of the Lord and the king: have nothing to do with those who are in high positions:
22 for disaster comes from them suddenly, and who knows the ruin that both can bring?
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For their downfall will come suddenly; and who has knowledge of the destruction of those in high positions?
23 These also are sayings of the wise: Partiality in judging is not good.
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These are more sayings of the wise: To have respect for a person's position when judging is not good.
24 Whoever says to the wicked, "You are innocent," will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations;
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He who says to the evil-doer, You are upright, will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.
25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.
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But those who say sharp words to him will have delight, and a blessing of good will come on them.
26 One who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.
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He gives a kiss with his lips who gives a right answer.
27 Prepare your work outside, get everything ready for you in the field; and after that build your house.
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Put your work in order outside, and make it ready in the field; and after that, see to the building of your house.
28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.
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Do not be a violent witness against your neighbour, or let your lips say what is false.
29 Do not say, "I will do to others as they have done to me; I will pay them back for what they have done."
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Say not, I will do to him as he has done to me; I will give the man the reward of his work.
30 I passed by the field of one who was lazy, by the vineyard of a stupid person;
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I went by the field of the hater of work, and by the vine-garden of the man without sense;
31 and see, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
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And it was all full of thorns, and covered with waste plants, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.
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Then looking at it, I gave thought: I saw, and I got teaching from it.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
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A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands in sleep:
34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want, like an armed warrior.
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So loss will come on you like an outlaw, and your need like an armed man.
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.