Bible in Basic English
Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
— Proverbs 20:6-1964, Bible in Basic English
“Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord. Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee. Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good. Man’s goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way? It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly. Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head. The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly. ”
“Many people profess their loyalty, but a faithful person– who can find? The righteous person behaves in integrity; blessed are his children after him. A king sitting on the throne to judge separates out all evil with his eyes. Who can say,“I have kept my heart clean; I am pure from my sin”? Diverse weights and diverse measures– the LORD abhors both of them. Even a young man is known by his actions, whether his activity is pure and whether it is right. The ear that hears and the eye that sees– the LORD has made them both. Do not love sleep, lest you become impoverished; open your eyes so that you might be satisfied with food. “It’s worthless! It’s worthless!” says the buyer, but when he goes on his way, he boasts. There is gold, and an abundance of rubies, but words of knowledge are like a precious jewel. Take a man’s garment when he has given security for a stranger, and hold him in pledge on behalf of strangers. Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet to a person, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. Plans are established by counsel, so make war with guidance. The one who goes about gossiping reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with someone who is always opening his mouth. The one who curses his father and his mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the blackest darkness. An inheritance gained easily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end. Do not say,“I will pay back evil!” Wait for the LORD, so that he may vindicate you. The LORD abhors differing weights, and dishonest scales are wicked. The steps of a person are ordained by the LORD– so how can anyone understand his own way? It is a snare for a person to rashly cry,“Holy!” and only afterward to consider what he has vowed. A wise king separates out the wicked; he turns the threshing wheel over them. The human spirit is like the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts. Loyal love and truth preserve a king, and his throne is upheld by loyal love. The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is gray hair. Beatings and wounds cleanse away evil, and floggings cleanse the innermost being.”
It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.