The Bible in Basic English BBE
Good News Translation GNT
1 Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give attention so that you may have knowledge:
1
My children, listen to what your father teaches you. Pay attention, and you will have understanding.
2 For I give you good teaching; do not give up the knowledge you are getting from me.
2
What I am teaching you is good, so remember it all.
3 For I was a son to my father, a gentle and an only one to my mother.
3
When I was only a little boy, my parents' only son,
4 And he gave me teaching, saying to me, Keep my words in your heart; keep my rules so that you may have life:
4
my father would teach me. He would say, "Remember what I say and never forget it. Do as I tell you, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get true knowledge; keep it in memory, do not be turned away from the words of my mouth.
5
Get wisdom and insight! Do not forget or ignore what I say.
6 Do not give her up, and she will keep you; give her your love, and she will make you safe.
6
Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe.
7 The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all you have to get true knowledge.
7
Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight.
8 Put her in a high place, and you will be lifted up by her; she will give you honour, when you give her your love.
8
Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will bring you honor.
9 She will put a crown of grace on your head, giving you a head-dress of glory.
9
She will be your crowning glory."
10 Give ear, O my son, and let your heart be open to my sayings; and long life will be yours.
10
Listen to me, my child. Take seriously what I am telling you, and you will live a long life.
11 I have given you teaching in the way of wisdom, guiding your steps in the straight way.
11
I have taught you wisdom and the right way to live.
12 When you go, your way will not be narrow, and in running you will not have a fall.
12
Nothing will stand in your way if you walk wisely, and you will not stumble when you run.
13 Take learning in your hands, do not let her go: keep her, for she is your life.
13
Always remember what you have learned. Your education is your life - guard it well.
14 Do not go in the road of sinners, or be walking in the way of evil men.
14
Do not go where evil people go. Do not follow the example of the wicked.
15 Keep far from it, do not go near; be turned from it, and go on your way.
15
Don't do it! Keep away from evil! Refuse it and go on your way.
16 For they take no rest till they have done evil; their sleep is taken away if they have not been the cause of someone's fall.
16
Wicked people cannot sleep unless they have done something wrong. They lie awake unless they have hurt someone.
17 The bread of evil-doing is their food, the wine of violent acts their drink.
17
Wickedness and violence are like food and drink to them.
18 But the way of the upright is like the light of early morning, getting brighter and brighter till the full day.
18
The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come.
19 The way of sinners is dark; they see not the cause of their fall.
19
The road of the wicked, however, is dark as night. They fall, but cannot see what they have stumbled over.
20 My son, give attention to my words; let your ear be turned to my sayings.
20
My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen to my words.
21 Let them not go from your eyes; keep them deep in your heart.
21
Never let them get away from you. Remember them and keep them in your heart.
22 For they are life to him who gets them, and strength to all his flesh.
22
They will give life and health to anyone who understands them.
23 And keep watch over your heart with all care; so you will have life.
23
Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.
24 Put away from you an evil tongue, and let false lips be far from you.
24
Never say anything that isn't true. Have nothing to do with lies and misleading words.
25 Keep your eyes on what is in front of you, looking straight before you.
25
Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don't hang your head in shame.
26 Keep a watch on your behaviour; let all your ways be rightly ordered.
26
Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right.
27 Let there be no turning to the right or to the left, keep your feet from evil.
27
Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don't go one step off the right way.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.