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

The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.

2 H e who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.

He who walks in honor fears the Lord, but he who is sinful in his ways hates Him.

3 I n the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, But the lips of the wise will preserve them.

A foolish man’s talk brings a stick to his back, but the lips of the wise will keep them safe.

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

There is no grain where there are no oxen, but much grain comes by the strength of the ox.

5 A faithful witness does not lie, But a false witness will utter lies.

A faithful man who tells what he knows will not lie, but the man who is not faithful will lie.

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, But knowledge is easy to him who understands.

One who laughs at the truth looks for wisdom and does not find it, but much learning is easy to him who has understanding.

7 G o from the presence of a foolish man, When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

Go away from a foolish man, for you will not find words of much learning.

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

The wisdom of the wise man is to understand what to do, but lying is the foolish way of fools.

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

Fools laugh at sin, but the favor of God is among the faithful.

10 T he heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy.

The heart knows when it is bitter, and a stranger cannot share its joy.

11 T he house of the wicked will be overthrown, But the tent of the upright will flourish.

The house of the sinful will be destroyed, but all will go well in the tent of the faithful.

12 T here is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

There is a way which looks right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

13 E ven in laughter the heart may sorrow, And the end of mirth may be grief.

Even while laughing the heart may be in pain, and the end of joy may be sorrow.

14 T he backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied from above.

The man who has gone back into sin will get the fruit of his ways, and a good man will get the fruit of what he does.

15 T he simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.

The one who is easy to fool believes everything, but the wise man looks where he goes.

16 A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident.

A wise man fears God and turns away from what is sinful, but a fool is full of pride and is not careful.

17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of wicked intentions is hated.

He who has a quick temper acts in a foolish way, and a man who makes sinful plans is hated.

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

Those who are easy to fool are foolish, but the wise have much learning.

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

Sinful men will bow in front of the good, and at the gates of those who are right with God.

20 T he poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, But the rich has many friends.

The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but the rich man has many friends.

21 H e who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

He who hates his neighbor sins, but happy is he who shows loving-favor to the poor.

22 D o they not go astray who devise evil? But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.

Do not those who make sinful plans go the wrong way? Kindness and truth are for those who plan good.

23 I n all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty.

Some good comes from all work. Nothing but talk leads only to being poor.

24 T he crown of the wise is their riches, But the foolishness of fools is folly.

What the wise receive is their riches, but fools are known by their foolish ways.

25 A true witness delivers souls, But a deceitful witness speaks lies.

A faithful man who tells what he knows saves lives, but he who tells lies hurts others.

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

There is strong trust in the fear of the Lord, and His children will have a safe place.

27 T he fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.

The fear of the Lord is a well of life. Its waters keep a man from death.

28 I n a multitude of people is a king’s honor, But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.

The shining-greatness of a king is in many people, but without people a prince has nothing.

29 H e who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly.

He who is slow to get angry has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper makes his foolish way look right.

30 A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones.

A heart that has peace is life to the body, but wrong desires are like the wasting away of the bones.

31 H e who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

He who makes it hard for the poor brings shame to his Maker, but he who shows loving-favor to those in need honors Him.

32 T he wicked is banished in his wickedness, But the righteous has a refuge in his death.

The sinful is thrown down by his wrong-doing, but the man who is right with God has a safe place when he dies.

33 W isdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, But what is in the heart of fools is made known.

Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools is made known.

34 R ighteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.

Being right with God makes a nation great, but sin is a shame to any people.

35 T he king’s favor is toward a wise servant, But his wrath is against him who causes shame.

The king’s favor is toward a wise servant, but his anger is toward the one who brings shame by what he does.