Bible in Basic English
For there will be no future for the evil man; the light of sinners will be put out.
My son, go in fear of the Lord and the king: have nothing to do with those who are in high positions:
For their downfall will come suddenly; and who has knowledge of the destruction of those in high positions?
These are more sayings of the wise: To have respect for a person's position when judging is not good.
He who says to the evil-doer, You are upright, will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.
But those who say sharp words to him will have delight, and a blessing of good will come on them.
He gives a kiss with his lips who gives a right answer.
Put your work in order outside, and make it ready in the field; and after that, see to the building of your house.
Do not be a violent witness against your neighbour, or let your lips say what is false.
Say not, I will do to him as he has done to me; I will give the man the reward of his work.
I went by the field of the hater of work, and by the vine-garden of the man without sense;
And it was all full of thorns, and covered with waste plants, and its stone wall was broken down.
Then looking at it, I gave thought: I saw, and I got teaching from it.
A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands in sleep:
So loss will come on you like an outlaw, and your need like an armed man.
— Proverbs 24:20-1964, Bible in Basic English
“For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both? These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer. Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips. Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work. I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. ”
Do not be glad at the fall of your hater, and let not your heart have joy at his downfall:
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.
Do not be troubled because of evil-doers, or have envy of sinners:
For there will be no future for the evil man; the light of sinners will be put out.
My son, go in fear of the Lord and the king: have nothing to do with those who are in high positions:
For their downfall will come suddenly; and who has knowledge of the destruction of those in high positions?
These are more sayings of the wise: To have respect for a person's position when judging is not good.
He who says to the evil-doer, You are upright, will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.
But those who say sharp words to him will have delight, and a blessing of good will come on them.
He gives a kiss with his lips who gives a right answer.
Put your work in order outside, and make it ready in the field; and after that, see to the building of your house.
Do not be a violent witness against your neighbour, or let your lips say what is false.
Say not, I will do to him as he has done to me; I will give the man the reward of his work.
I went by the field of the hater of work, and by the vine-garden of the man without sense;
And it was all full of thorns, and covered with waste plants, and its stone wall was broken down.
Then looking at it, I gave thought: I saw, and I got teaching from it.
A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands in sleep:
So loss will come on you like an outlaw, and your need like an armed man.