¹ The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
² Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
but those who despise him are devious in their ways.
³ A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,
but the lips of the wise protect them.
⁴ Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.
⁵ An honest witness does not deceive,
but a false witness pours out lies.
⁶ The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
⁷ Stay away from a fool,
for you will not find knowledge on their lips.
⁸ The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
but the folly of fools is deception.
⁹ Fools mock at making amends for sin,
but goodwill is found among the upright.
¹⁰ Each heart knows its own bitterness,
and no one else can share its joy.
¹¹ The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
¹² There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.
¹³ Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and rejoicing may end in grief.
¹⁴ The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,
and the good rewarded for theirs.
¹⁵ The simple believe anything,
but the prudent give thought to their steps.
¹⁶ The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,
but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
¹⁷ A quick-tempered person does foolish things,
and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.
¹⁸ The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
¹⁹ Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
²⁰ The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends.
²¹ It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,
but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.
²² Do not those who plot evil go astray?
But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.
²³ All hard work brings a profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
²⁴ The wealth of the wise is their crown,
but the folly of fools yields folly.
²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives,
but a false witness is deceitful.
²⁶ Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,
and for their children it will be a refuge.
²⁷ The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning a person from the snares of death.
²⁸ A large population is a king’s glory,
but without subjects a prince is ruined.
²⁹ Whoever is patient has great understanding,
but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
³⁰ A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.
³¹ Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
³² When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,
but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.
³³ Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning
and even among fools she lets herself be known.
³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin condemns any people.
³⁵ A king delights in a wise servant,
but a shameful servant arouses his fury.