¹Every wise woman builds her house ,

but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands .

²He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD ,

but he who is perverse in his ways despises him .

³The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back ,

but the lips of the wise protect them .

⁴Where no oxen are , the crib is clean ,

but much increase is by the strength of the ox .

⁵A truthful witness will not lie ,

but a false witness pours out lies .

⁶A scoffer seeks wisdom , and doesn’t find it ,

but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person .

⁷Stay away from a foolish man ,

for you won’t find knowledge on his lips .

⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way ,

but the folly of fools is deceit .

⁹Fools mock at making atonement for sins,

but amongst the upright there is good will .

¹⁰The heart knows its own bitterness and joy ;

he will not share these with a stranger .

¹¹The house of the wicked will be overthrown ,

but the tent of the upright will flourish .

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

but in the end it leads to death .

¹³Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful ,

and mirth may end in heaviness .

¹⁴The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways ;

likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways .

¹⁵A simple man believes everything ,

but the prudent man carefully considers his ways .

¹⁶A wise man fears and shuns evil ,

but the fool is hot headed and reckless.

¹⁷He who is quick to become angry will commit folly,

and a crafty man is hated .

¹⁸The simple inherit folly ,

but the prudent are crowned with knowledge .

¹⁹The evil bow down before the good ,

and the wicked at the gates of the righteous .

²⁰The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbour ,

but the rich person has many friends .

²¹He who despises his neighbour sins ,

but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.

²²Don’t they go astray who plot evil ?

But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good .

²³In all hard work there is profit ,

but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty .

²⁴The crown of the wise is their riches ,

but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.

²⁵A truthful witness saves souls ,

but a false witness is deceitful .

²⁶In the fear of the LORD is a secure fortress,

and he will be a refuge for his children .

²⁷The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life ,

turning people from the snares of death .

²⁸In the multitude of people is the king ’s glory ,

but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince .

²⁹He who is slow to anger has great understanding ,

but he who has a quick temper displays folly.

³⁰The life of the body is a heart at peace,

but envy rots the bones .

³¹He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker ,

but he who is kind to the needy honours him .

³²The wicked is brought down in his calamity ,

but in death , the righteous has a refuge .

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

and is even made known in the inward part of fools .

³⁴Righteousness exalts a nation ,

but sin is a disgrace to any people .

³⁵The king ’s favour is towards a servant who deals wisely ,

but his wrath is towards one who causes shame.