1The [†]wise woman builds her house,

But the woman of folly tears it down with her own hands.

2He who walks in his uprightness fears Yahweh,

But he who is devious in his ways despises Him.

3In the mouth of the ignorant fool is a rod of lofty pride,

But the lips of the wise will keep them.

4Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,

But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.

5A faithful witness will not lie,

But a false witness breathes out lies.

6A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,

But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.

7Leave the presence of a fool,

As you have not known lips of knowledge there.

8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,

But the folly of fools is deceit.

9Ignorant fools scoff at guilt,

But among the upright there is favor.

10The heart knows its own bitterness,

And a stranger does not share its gladness.

11The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

But the tent of the upright will flourish.

12There is a way which seems right to a man,

But its end is the way of death.

13Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,

And the end of joy may be grief.

14The one who turns back in his heart will be satisfied with his ways,

But a good man will be satisfied [†]with his.

15The simple believes everything,

But the prudent one discerns his steps.

16A wise man fears and turns away from evil,

But a fool gets angry and feels secure.

17A quick-tempered man acts in folly,

And a man of evil schemes is hated.

18The simple inherit folly,

But the prudent are [†]crowned with knowledge.

19The evil will bow down before the good,

And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20The poor is hated even by his neighbor,

But those who love the rich are many.

21He who despises his neighbor sins,

But how blessed is he who is gracious to the [†]poor.

22Will they not wander in error who devise evil?

But lovingkindness and truth will be to those who devise good.

23In all painful labor there is profit,

But mere words from the lips lead only to want.

24The crown of the wise is their riches,

But the folly of fools is folly.

25A truthful witness delivers souls,

But he who breathes out lies is deceitful.

26In the [†]fear of Yahweh there is strong security,

And [†]his children will have refuge.

27The [†]fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life,

To turn aside from the snares of death.

28In a multitude of people is a king’s splendor,

But in the dearth of people is a prince’s ruin.

29He who is slow to anger has great discernment,

But he who is [†]quick-tempered raises up folly.

30A [†]tranquil heart is life to the body,

But jealousy is rottenness to the bones.

31He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,

But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.

32The wicked is thrust down by his own evil,

But the righteous takes refuge even in his death.

33Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,

But in the midst of fools it is merely made known.

34Righteousness exalts a nation,

But sin is a disgrace to any people.

35The king’s favor is toward a servant who acts insightfully,

But his fury is toward him who acts shamefully.