The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
aBut he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
aBut the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, the trough is clean;
But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.
5 A afaithful witness does not lie,
But a false witness will utter blies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it,
But aknowledge is easy to him who understands.
7 Go from the presence of a foolish man,
When you do not perceive in him the lips of aknowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But the folly of fools is deceit.
9 aFools mock at sin,
But among the upright there is favor.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.
11 aThe house of the wicked will be overthrown,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 aThere is a way that seems right to a man,
But bits end is the way of cdeath.
13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,
And athe end of mirth may be grief.
14 The backslider in heart will be afilled with his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied from babove.
15 The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps.
16 aA wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self‑confident.
17 A quick‑tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of wicked intentions is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil will bow before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 aThe poor man is hated even by his own neighbor,
But the rich has many bfriends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins;
aBut he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
22 Do they not go astray who devise evil?
But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit,
But idle chatter leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the foolishness of fools is folly.
25 A true witness delivers asouls,
But a deceitful witness speaks lies.
26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.
27 aThe fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.
28 In a multitude of people is a king’s honor,
But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.
29 aHe who is slow to wrath has great understanding,
But he who is impulsive exalts folly.
30 A sound heart is life to the body,
But aenvy is brottenness to the bones.
31 aHe who oppresses the poor reproaches bhis Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.
32 The wicked is banished in his wickedness,
But athe righteous has a refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
But awhat is in the heart of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a anation,
But sin is a reproach to any people.
35 aThe king’s favor is toward a wise servant,
But his wrath is against him who causes shame.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved.