Bible in Basic English
(For we are but of yesterday, and have no knowledge, because our days on earth are gone like a shade:)
Will they not give you teaching, and say words of wisdom to you?
Will the river-plant come up in its pride without wet earth? will the grass get tall without water?
When it is still green, without being cut down, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant.
So is the end of all who do not keep God in mind; and the hope of the evil-doer comes to nothing:
Whose support is cut off, and whose hope is no stronger than a spider's thread.
He is looking to his family for support, but it is not there; he puts his hope in it, but it comes to nothing.
He is full of strength before the sun, and his branches go out over his garden.
His roots are twisted round the stones, forcing their way in between them.
If he is taken away from his place, then it will say, I have not seen you.
Such is the joy of his way, and out of the dust another comes up to take his place.
Truly, God will not give up him who is without sin, and will not take evil-doers by the hand.
The time will come when your mouth will be full of laughing, and cries of joy will come from your lips.
Your haters will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the sinner will not be seen again.
— Job 8:9-1964, Bible in Basic English
“(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days upon earth are a shadow); Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, And utter words out of their heart? Can the rush grow up without mire? Can the flag grow without water? Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, It withereth before any other herb. So are the paths of all that forget God; And the hope of the godless man shall perish: Whose confidence shall break in sunder, And whose trust is a spider’s web. He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: He shall hold fast thereby, but it shall not endure. He is green before the sun, And his shoots go forth over his garden. His roots are wrapped about the stone-heap, He beholdeth the place of stones. If he be destroyed from his place, Then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee. Behold, this is the joy of his way; And out of the earth shall others spring. Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers. He will yet fill thy mouth with laughter, And thy lips with shouting. They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; And the tent of the wicked shall be no more. ”
“(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.) Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart? "Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water? While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed. So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish, Whose confidence shall break apart, Whose trust is a spider's web. He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure. He is green before the sun. His shoots go forth over his garden. His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones. If he is destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, 'I have not seen you.' Behold, this is the joy of his way: out of the earth, others shall spring. "Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers. He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting. Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more."”
“For we were born yesterday and do not have knowledge, since our days on earth are but a shadow. Will they not instruct you and speak to you, and bring forth words from their understanding? Can the papyrus plant grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish without water? While they are still beginning to flower and not ripe for cutting, they can wither away faster than any grass! Such is the destiny of all who forget God; the hope of the godless perishes, whose trust is in something futile, whose security is a spider’s web. He leans against his house but it does not hold up, he takes hold of it but it does not stand. He is a well-watered plant in the sun, its shoots spread over its garden. It wraps its roots around a heap of stones and it looks for a place among stones. If he is uprooted from his place, then that place will disown him, saying,‘I have never seen you!’ Indeed, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth others spring up. “Surely, God does not reject a blameless man, nor does he grasp the hand of the evildoers. He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with gladness. Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.””
If you are clean and upright; then he will certainly be moved to take up your cause, and will make clear your righteousness by building up your house again.
And though your start was small, your end will be very great.
Put the question now to the past generations, and give attention to what has been searched out by their fathers:
(For we are but of yesterday, and have no knowledge, because our days on earth are gone like a shade:)
Will they not give you teaching, and say words of wisdom to you?
Will the river-plant come up in its pride without wet earth? will the grass get tall without water?
When it is still green, without being cut down, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant.
So is the end of all who do not keep God in mind; and the hope of the evil-doer comes to nothing:
Whose support is cut off, and whose hope is no stronger than a spider's thread.
He is looking to his family for support, but it is not there; he puts his hope in it, but it comes to nothing.
He is full of strength before the sun, and his branches go out over his garden.
His roots are twisted round the stones, forcing their way in between them.
If he is taken away from his place, then it will say, I have not seen you.
Such is the joy of his way, and out of the dust another comes up to take his place.
Truly, God will not give up him who is without sin, and will not take evil-doers by the hand.
The time will come when your mouth will be full of laughing, and cries of joy will come from your lips.
Your haters will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the sinner will not be seen again.