Step 3: Happy Reading

Reading the Simple Bible Step by Step

1. Chief Purpose of Happy Reading

Putting together the 1,000 words from Step 1 and the Simple Word-Order Rules from Step 2, this is the stage of doing where you have the joy of reading the writing of the Bible direct, without using a book of words or giving attention to hard rules of words.

• BBE (Bible in Basic English) is the Bible put into Basic English using only the 850 basic words of C. K. Ogden, 100 verse words, and 50 Bible words (1,000 words in all).
• In place of hard or old words, it is written in the most simple and clear words. It is the best book for those getting knowledge of English to get the true sense of the Bible without error.

2. Four Chief Rules for Happy Reading

① Reading without a Book of Words

• All words in the writing of the BBE are in the list of 1,000 words you got knowledge of in Step 1.
• Even if you see words that seem strange, do not make a search in a book of words. Get the sense from the connection of simple act words with names and direction words learned in Step 2.

② Getting the Sense from Simple Act Word + Name

• Hard act words in normal Bibles are made simple with simple act words and names in the BBE:
  • loved ➞ had love for
  • believed ➞ has faith in
  • perished ➞ came to destruction
• Read while picturing these acts and pictures direct in your mind.

③ Grouping by Word Order

• Make groups of words by the rule from Step 2: [Doer] + [Simple Act Word] + [Thing] + [Direction Word / Place] + [Time].
• (Example: At the first / God made / the heaven and the earth.)

④ Parallel Reading (Looking at Forms Side by Side)

• Put the BBE side by side with other forms you have knowledge of, like the KJV or WEB.
• Seeing how hard old words are changed into 1,000 Basic words will give you a surprising view of English.

3. Looking at Examples of BBE Writings

Example 1: Genesis 1:1

• BBE: At the first God made the heaven and the earth.
• KJV: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
• Notes: In place of the hard act word created, BBE makes use of made (one of the 16 simple act words). In place of In the beginning, it makes use of At the first from the 850 words.

Example 2: Psalm 23:1

• BBE: The Lord is my keeper; I will need nothing.
• KJV: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
• Notes: In place of shepherd, BBE makes use of keeper from the simple act word keep. The old group of words I shall not want is changed to I will need nothing for clear sense.

Example 3: John 3:16

• BBE: For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have eternal life.
• KJV: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
• Notes:
  • so loved ➞ had such love for (Simple act word have + Name love)
  • believeth in ➞ has faith in (Simple act word have + Name faith)
  • perish ➞ come to destruction (Simple act word come + Direction word to + Name destruction)
  • everlasting ➞ eternal (Verse List word)

4. Offered Designs for Happy Reading

1-Day Design (Making and Start): Genesis Parts 1 to 3

Read the story of the making of the world and get knowledge of how simple act words like make, put, give are used in statements.

1-Month Design (Wisdom and Verse): Proverbs (31 Days of Wisdom)

Read one part of Proverbs every day. You may get knowledge of wisdom for life from short statements.

• See on the top page

20-Minute Design for Every Day

See the power of Simple Word Order through meeting every day, and get knowledge about a life happy in truth.

• Today’s Story: Walking with Jesus.
• Reading for Today: 1 Page a Day in the Bible.
• See on the top page

Book Design A: If You Have a Desire for Short Stories Giving Amusement

• 🐳 Jonah: A story full of surprises and dark amusement.
• 🌾 Ruth: A great, touching story of love.
• 👑 Esther: A story of government secrets and fear that keeps your attention high.
• 📖 Mark: The life of Jesus moving as quick as a moving picture.

Book Design B: If You Have a Desire for Deeper Thought

• 💡 Ecclesiastes: Thoughts on the sense of life for all men.
• ✝️ John: Stories of men making a search for eternal things.

🎉 Short View of Happy English Learning

• Step 1 (Simple Words): Taking away the trouble of words with a small list of 1,000 chief words.
• Step 2 (Simple Word Order): Getting the fixed structure of putting 16 simple act words with direction words.
• Step 3 (Happy Reading): Reading the text of the BBE, having the joy and wisdom of reading English