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

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

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

He who walks in his uprightness fears Yahweh, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.

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

The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.

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

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

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

A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.

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

A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.

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

Stay away from a foolish man, for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.

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

The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.

9 F ools laugh at sin, but the favor of God is among the faithful.

Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will.

10 T he heart knows when it is bitter, and a stranger cannot share its joy.

The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.

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

The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish.

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

There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

13 E ven while laughing the heart may be in pain, and the end of joy may be sorrow.

Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.

14 T he 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.

The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.

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

A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.

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

A wise man fears, and shuns evil, but the fool is hot headed and reckless.

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

He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated.

18 T hose who are easy to fool are foolish, but the wise have much learning.

The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

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

The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

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

The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.

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

He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who has pity on the poor.

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

Don’t they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.

23 S ome good comes from all work. Nothing but talk leads only to being poor.

In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.

24 W hat the wise receive is their riches, but fools are known by their foolish ways.

The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.

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

A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.

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

In the fear of Yahweh is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.

27 T he fear of the Lord is a well of life. Its waters keep a man from death.

The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life, turning people from the snares of death.

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

In the multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.

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

He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.

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

The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.

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

He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.

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

The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but in death, the righteous has a refuge.

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

Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.

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

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

35 T he king’s favor is toward a wise servant, but his anger is toward the one who brings shame by what he does.

The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.