New King James Version

King James Bible

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

1Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

2He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.

2He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

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

3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

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

4Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

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

5A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

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

6A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

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

7Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

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

8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

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

9Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

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

10The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

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

11The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

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

12There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

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

13Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

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

14The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

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

15The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

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

16A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

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

17He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

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

18The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

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

19The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

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

20The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

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

21He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

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

22Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

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

23In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

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

24The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

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

25A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

26In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.

26In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.

27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

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

28In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

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

29He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

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

30A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

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

31He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

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

32The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

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

33Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

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

34Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

35The king’s favor is toward a wise servant, But his wrath is against him who causes shame.

35The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.