1 E very wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.

¶ Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish plucks it down with her hands.

2 H e that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah; But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

¶ He that walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, but he that is perverse in his ways despises him.

3 I n the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

¶ In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

4 W here no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the strength of the ox.

¶ Without oxen, the storehouse is clean, but by the strength of the ox there is abundance of bread.

5 A faithful witness will not lie; But a false witness uttereth lies.

¶ The true witness will not lie, but the false witness will utter lies.

6 A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.

¶ The scorner sought wisdom and found it not, but wisdom comes easy unto him that understands.

7 G o into the presence of a foolish man, And thou shalt not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

¶ Go from the presence of the foolish man when thou dost not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

8 T he wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.

¶ The wisdom of the sane is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.

9 A trespass-offering mocketh fools; But among the upright there is good will.

¶ Fools speak sin unto themselves, but among the righteous there is love.

10 T he heart knoweth its own bitterness; And a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.

¶ The heart knows the bitterness of his soul, and a stranger shall not intermeddle with his joy.

11 T he house of the wicked shall be overthrown; But the tent of the upright shall flourish.

¶ The house of the wicked shall be made desolate, but the tent of the upright shall flourish.

12 T here is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.

¶ There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

13 E ven in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of mirth is heaviness.

¶ Even in laughter, the scorner has pain in his heart, and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

14 T he backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

¶ The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways, and the good man shall be separated from him.

15 T he simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to his going.

¶ The simple believes every word, but the prudent man understands his steps.

16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.

¶ The wise man fears and departs from evil, but the fool rages and is confident.

17 H e that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.

¶ He that is soon angry shall deal foolishly, and the man of wicked devices shall be hated.

18 T he simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

¶ The simple shall inherit folly, but the prudent shall be crowned with wisdom.

19 T he evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.

¶ Those who are evil shall bow before those who are good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 T he poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends.

¶ The poor is hated even of his own neighbour, but many are those who love the rich.

21 H e that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.

¶ The sinner despises his neighbour, but he that has mercy on the poor is blessed.

22 D o they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

¶ Do they not err that meditate upon evil? but those that meditate upon good shall attain mercy and truth.

23 I n all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

¶ In all labour there is fruit, but to talk and not do, brings poverty.

24 T he crown of the wise is their riches; But the folly of fools is only folly.

¶ The crown of the wise is their wisdom, but that which distinguishes fools is their folly.

25 A true witness delivereth souls; But he that uttereth lies causeth deceit.

¶ The true witness delivers souls, but the deceitful one speaks lies.

26 I n the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence; And his children shall have a place of refuge.

¶ In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence, and there his sons shall have hope.

27 T he fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

28 I n the multitude of people is the king's glory; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

¶ In the multitude of the people is the king’s glory, but in the failure of the people is the weakness of the prince.

29 H e that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

¶ He that is slow to wrath is of great intelligence, but he that is short of spirit exalts folly.

30 A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh; But envy is the rottenness of the bones.

¶ A sound heart is life to the flesh, but envy is rottenness of the bones.

31 H e that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.

¶ He that oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he that has mercy on the poor, honours him.

32 T he wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing; But the righteous hath a refuge in his death.

¶ For his wickedness shall the wicked be cast out, but the righteous in his death has hope.

33 W isdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; But that which is in the inward part of fools is made known.

¶ Wisdom shall rest in the heart of him that is sane and is made known in the midst of the fools.

34 R ighteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people.

¶ Righteousness exalts a people, but sin is a reproach to the nations.

35 T he king's favor is toward a servant that dealeth wisely; But his wrath will be against him that causeth shame.

¶ The king’s favour is toward the wise slave, but his wrath is against him that causes shame.