Basic English Version : Read the Bible in 1 Year

Ezekiel 1 / Basic English

1. Now it came about in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, while I was by the river Chebar among those who had been made prisoners, that the heavens were made open and I saw visions of God.
2. On the fifth day of the month, in the fifth year after King Jehoiachin had been made a prisoner,
3. The word of the Lord came to me, Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldaeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was on me there.
4. And, looking, I saw a storm-wind coming out of the north, a great cloud with flames of fire coming after one another, and a bright light shining round about it and in the heart of it was something coloured like electrum.
5. And in the heart of it were the forms of four living beings. And this was what they were like; they had the form of a man.
6. And every one had four faces, and every one of them had four wings.
7. And their feet were straight feet; and the under sides of their feet were like the feet of oxen; and they were shining like polished brass.
8. And they had the hands of a man under their wings; the four of them had faces on their four sides.
9. They went without turning, every one went straight forward.
10. As for the form of their faces, they had the face of a man, and the four of them had the face of a lion on the right side, and the four of them had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four of them had the face of an eagle.
11. And their wings were separate at the top; two of the wings of every one were joined one to another, and two were covering their bodies.
12. Every one of them went straight forward; wherever the spirit was to go they went; they went on without turning.
13. And between the living beings it was like burning coals of fire, as if flames were going one after the other between the living beings; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went thunder-flames.
14. And the living beings went out and came back as quickly as a thunder-flame.
15. Now while I was looking at the four living beings, I saw one wheel on the earth, by the side of the living beings, for the four of them.
16. The form of the wheels and their work was like a beryl; the four of them had the same form and design, and they were like a wheel inside a wheel.
17. The four of them went straight forward without turning to one side.
18. And I saw that they had edges, and their edges, even of the four, were full of eyes round about.
19. And when the living beings went on, the wheels went by their side; and when the living beings were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
20. Wherever the spirit was to go they went; and the wheels were lifted up by their side: for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.
21. When these went on, the others went; and when these came to rest, the others came to rest; and when these were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up by their side: for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.
22. And over the heads of the living beings there was the form of an arch, looking like ice, stretched out over their heads on high.
23. Under the arch their wings were straight, one stretched out to another: every one had two wings covering their bodies on this side and two covering their bodies on that side.
24. And when they went, the sound of their wings was like the sound of great waters to my ears, like the voice of the Ruler of all, a sound like the rushing of an army: when they came to rest they let down their wings.
25. And there was a voice from the top of the arch which was over their heads: when they came to rest they let down their wings.
26. And on the top of the arch which was over their heads was the form of a king's seat, like a sapphire stone; and on the form of the seat was the form of a man seated on it on high.
27. And I saw it coloured like electrum, with the look of fire in it and round it, going up from what seemed to be the middle of his body; and going down from what seemed to be the middle of his body I saw what was like fire, and there was a bright light shining round him.
28. Like the bow in the cloud on a day of rain, so was the light shining round him. And this is what the glory of the Lord was like. And when I saw it I went down on my face, and the voice of one talking came to my ears.

Ezekiel 2 / Basic English

1. And he said to me, Son of man, get up on your feet, so that I may say words to you.
2. And at his words the spirit came into me and put me on my feet; and his voice came to my ears.
3. And he said to me, Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to an uncontrolled nation which has gone against me: they and their fathers have been sinners against me even to this very day.
4. And the children are hard and stiff-hearted; I am sending you to them: and you are to say to them, These are the words of the Lord.
5. And they, if they give ear to you or if they do not give ear (for they are an uncontrolled people), will see that there has been a prophet among them.
6. And you, son of man, have no fear of them or of their words, even if sharp thorns are round you and you are living among scorpions: have no fear of their words and do not be overcome by their looks, for they are an uncontrolled people.
7. And you are to give them my words, if they give ear to you or if they do not: for they are uncontrolled.
8. But you, son of man, give ear to what I say to you, and do not be uncontrolled like that uncontrolled people: let your mouth be open and take what I give you.
9. And looking, I saw a hand stretched out to me, and I saw the roll of a book in it;
10. And he put it open before me, and it had writing on the front and on the back; words of grief and sorrow and trouble were recorded in it.

2 Timothy 3 / Basic English

1. But be certain of this, that in the last days times of trouble will come.
2. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, uplifted in pride, given to bitter words, going against the authority of their fathers, never giving praise, having no religion,
3. Without natural love, bitter haters, saying evil of others, violent and uncontrolled, hating all good,
4. False to their friends, acting without thought, lifted up in mind, loving pleasure more than God;
5. Having a form of religion, but turning their backs on the power of it: go not with these.
6. For these are they who go secretly into houses, making prisoners of foolish women, weighted down with sin, turned from the way by their evil desires,
7. Ever learning, and never coming to the knowledge of what is true.
8. And as James and Jambres went against Moses, so do these go against what is true: men of evil minds, who, tested by faith, are seen to be false.
9. But they will go no farther: for their foolish behaviour will be clear to all men, as theirs was in the end.
10. But you took as your example my teaching, behaviour, purpose, and faith; my long waiting, my love, my quiet undergoing of trouble;
11. My punishments and pain; the things which came to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; the cruel attacks made on me: and the Lord made me free from them all.
12. Yes, and all whose purpose is to be living in the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus, will be cruelly attacked.
13. Evil and false men will become worse and worse, using deceit and themselves overcome by deceit.
14. But see that you keep to the teaching you have been given and the things of which you are certain, conscious of who has been your teacher;
15. And that from the time when you were a child, you have had knowledge of the holy Writings, which are able to make you wise to salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus.
16. Every holy Writing which comes from God is of profit for teaching, for training, for guiding, for education in righteousness:
17. So that the man of God may be complete, trained and made ready for every good work.