Bible in Basic English
How long will you be sleeping, O hater of work? when will you get up from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands in sleep:
Then loss will come on you like an outlaw, and your need like an armed man
A good-for-nothing man is an evil-doer; he goes on his way causing trouble with false words;
Making signs with his eyes, rubbing with his feet, and giving news with his fingers;
His mind is ever designing evil: he lets loose violent acts.
For this cause his downfall will be sudden; quickly he will be broken, and there will be no help for him.
Six things are hated by the Lord; seven things are disgusting to him:
Eyes of pride, a false tongue, hands which take life without cause;
A heart full of evil designs, feet which are quick in running after sin;
A false witness, breathing out untrue words, and one who lets loose violent acts among brothers.
My son, keep the rule of your father, and have in memory the teaching of your mother:
Keep them ever folded in your heart, and have them hanging round your neck.
In your walking, it will be your guide; when you are sleeping, it will keep watch over you; when you are awake, it will have talk with you.
For the rule is a light, and the teaching a shining light; and the guiding words of training are the way of life.
They will keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the strange woman.
Let not your heart's desire go after her fair body; let not her eyes take you prisoner.
For a loose woman is looking for a cake of bread, but another man's wife goes after one's very life.
May a man take fire to his breast without burning his clothing?
Or may one go on lighted coals, and his feet not be burned?
So it is with him who goes in to his neighbour's wife; he who has anything to do with her will not go free from punishment.
Men do not have a low opinion of a thief who takes food when he is in need of it:
But if he is taken in the act he will have to give back seven times as much, giving up all his property which is in his house.
He who takes another man's wife is without all sense: he who does it is the cause of destruction to his soul.
Wounds will be his and loss of honour, and his shame may not be washed away.
For bitter is the wrath of an angry husband; in the day of punishment he will have no mercy.
He will not take any payment; and he will not make peace with you though your money offerings are increased.
— Proverbs 6:9-1964, Bible in Basic English
“How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yeta little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man. A worthless person, a man of iniquity, Is he that walketh with a perverse mouth; That winketh with his eyes, that speaketh with his feet, That maketh signs with his fingers; In whose heart is perverseness, Who deviseth evil continually, Who soweth discord. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; On a sudden shall he be broken, and that without remedy. There are six things which Jehovah hateth; Yea, seven which are an abomination unto him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood; A heart that deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief, A false witness that uttereth lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren. My son, keep the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thy heart; Tie them about thy neck. When thou walkest, it shall lead thee; When thou sleepest, it shall watch over thee; And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life: To keep thee from the evil woman, From the flattery of the foreigner’s tongue. Lust not after her beauty in thy heart; Neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For on account of a harlota man is broughtto a piece of bread; And the adulteress hunteth for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk upon hot coals, And his feet not be scorched? So he that goeth in to his neighbor’s wife; Whosoever toucheth her shall not be unpunished. Men do not despise a thief, if he steal To satisfy himself when he is hungry: But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; He shall give all the substance of his house. He that committeth adultery with a woman is void of understanding: He doeth it who would destroy his own soul. Wounds and dishonor shall he get; And his reproach shall not be wiped away. For jealousy is the rage of a man; And he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will not regard any ransom; Neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts. ”
“How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Thou wilt sleep a little, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to sleep: And want shall come upon thee, as a traveller, and poverty as a man armed. But if thou be diligent, thy harvest shall come as a fountain, and want shall flee far from thee. A man that is an apostate, an unprofitable man, walketh with a perverse mouth, He winketh with the eyes, presseth with the foot, speaketh with the finger. With a wicked heart he deviseth evil, and at all times he soweth discord. To such a one his destruction shall presently come, and he shall suddenly be destroyed, and shall no longer have any remedy. Six things there are, which the Lord hateth, and the seventh his soul detesteth: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that deviseth wicked plots, feet that are swift to run into mischief, A deceitful witness that uttereth lies, and him that soweth discord among brethren. My son, keep the commandments of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Bind them in thy heart continually, and put them about thy neck. When thou walkest, let them go with thee: when thou sleepest, let them keep thee, and when thou awakest, talk with them. Because the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: That they may keep thee from the evil woman, and from the flattering tongue of the stranger. Let not thy heart covet her beauty, be not caught with her winks: For the price of a harlot is scarce one loaf: but the woman catcheth the precious soul of a man. Can a man hide fire in his bosom, and his garments not burn? Or can he walk upon hot coals, and his feet not be burnt? So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife, shall not be clean when he shall touch her. The fault is not so great when a man hath stolen: for he stealeth to fill his hungry soul: And if he be taken, he shall restore sevenfold, and shall give up all the substance of his house. But he that is an adulterer, for the folly of his heart shall destroy his own soul: He gathereth to himself shame and dishonour, and his reproach shall not be blotted out: Because the jealousy and rage of the husband will not spare in the day of revenge, Nor will he yield to any man's prayers, nor will he accept for satisfaction ever so many gifts. ”
Go to the ant, you hater of work; give thought to her ways and be wise:
Having no chief, overseer, or ruler,
She gets her meat in the summer, storing up food at the time of the grain-cutting.
How long will you be sleeping, O hater of work? when will you get up from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands in sleep:
Then loss will come on you like an outlaw, and your need like an armed man
A good-for-nothing man is an evil-doer; he goes on his way causing trouble with false words;
Making signs with his eyes, rubbing with his feet, and giving news with his fingers;
His mind is ever designing evil: he lets loose violent acts.
For this cause his downfall will be sudden; quickly he will be broken, and there will be no help for him.
Six things are hated by the Lord; seven things are disgusting to him:
Eyes of pride, a false tongue, hands which take life without cause;
A heart full of evil designs, feet which are quick in running after sin;
A false witness, breathing out untrue words, and one who lets loose violent acts among brothers.
My son, keep the rule of your father, and have in memory the teaching of your mother:
Keep them ever folded in your heart, and have them hanging round your neck.
In your walking, it will be your guide; when you are sleeping, it will keep watch over you; when you are awake, it will have talk with you.
For the rule is a light, and the teaching a shining light; and the guiding words of training are the way of life.
They will keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the strange woman.
Let not your heart's desire go after her fair body; let not her eyes take you prisoner.
For a loose woman is looking for a cake of bread, but another man's wife goes after one's very life.
May a man take fire to his breast without burning his clothing?
Or may one go on lighted coals, and his feet not be burned?
So it is with him who goes in to his neighbour's wife; he who has anything to do with her will not go free from punishment.
Men do not have a low opinion of a thief who takes food when he is in need of it:
But if he is taken in the act he will have to give back seven times as much, giving up all his property which is in his house.
He who takes another man's wife is without all sense: he who does it is the cause of destruction to his soul.
Wounds will be his and loss of honour, and his shame may not be washed away.
For bitter is the wrath of an angry husband; in the day of punishment he will have no mercy.
He will not take any payment; and he will not make peace with you though your money offerings are increased.