1 T he wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

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

2 H e who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, But he who is devious in his ways despises 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 back, But the lips of the wise will protect 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 manger is clean, But much revenue comes 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 trustworthy witness will not lie, But a false witness utters lies.

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

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.

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

7 L eave the presence of a fool, Or you will not discern words 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 sensible is to understand his way, But the foolishness of fools is deceit.

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

9 F ools mock at sin, But among the upright there is good will.

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

10 T he heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share 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 will be destroyed, But the tent of the upright will 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 seems right to a man, But its end is the way 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 may be in pain, And the end of joy may be grief.

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

14 T he backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied with his.

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

15 T he naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers his steps.

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

16 A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, But a fool is arrogant and careless.

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

17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of evil devices is hated.

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

18 T he naive inherit foolishness, But the sensible are crowned with knowledge.

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

19 T he evil will 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 by his neighbor, But those who love the rich are many.

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

21 H e who despises his neighbor sins, But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.

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

22 W ill they not go astray who devise evil? But kindness and truth will be to those who 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 mere talk leads only to poverty.

¶ 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 foolishness.

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

25 A truthful witness saves lives, But he who utters lies is treacherous.

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

26 I n the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge.

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

27 T he fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death.

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

28 I n a multitude of people is a king’s glory, But in the dearth of people is a prince’s ruin.

¶ 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 who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick-tempered exalts 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 life to the body, But passion is rottenness to the bones.

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

31 H e who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, But he who is gracious to the needy honors 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 by his wrongdoing, But the righteous has a refuge when he dies.

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

33 W isdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, But in the hearts of fools it 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 exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace 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 who acts wisely, But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.

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