1Lady Wisdom builds a lovely home;
Sir Fool comes along and tears it down brick by brick.
2An honest life shows respect for God ;
a degenerate life is a slap in his face.
3Frivolous talk provokes a derisive smile;
wise speech evokes nothing but respect.
4No cattle, no crops;
a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow.
5A true witness never lies;
a false witness makes a business of it.
6Cynics look high and low for wisdom—and never find it;
the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!
7Escape quickly from the company of fools;
they’re a waste of your time, a waste of your words.
8The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track;
the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.
9The stupid ridicule right and wrong,
but a moral life is a favored life.
10The person who shuns the bitter moments of friends
will be an outsider at their celebrations.
11Lives of careless wrongdoing are run-down shacks;
holy living builds soaring cathedrals.
12-13There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough;
look again—it leads straight to hell.
Sure, those people appear to be having a good time,
but all that laughter will end in heartbreak.
14A mean person gets paid back in meanness,
a gracious person in grace.
15The gullible believe anything they’re told;
the prudent sift and weigh every word.
16The wise watch their steps and avoid evil;
fools are headstrong and reckless.
17The hotheaded do things they’ll later regret;
the coldhearted get the cold shoulder.
18Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion;
wise realists plant their feet on the ground.
19Eventually, evil will pay tribute to good;
the wicked will respect God-loyal people.
20An unlucky loser is shunned by all,
but everyone loves a winner.
21It’s criminal to ignore a neighbor in need,
but compassion for the poor—what a blessing!
22Isn’t it obvious that conspirators lose out,
while the thoughtful win love and trust?
23Hard work always pays off;
mere talk puts no bread on the table.
24The wise accumulate wisdom;
fools get stupider by the day.
25Souls are saved by truthful witness
and betrayed by the spread of lies.
26The Fear-of-God builds up confidence,
and makes a world safe for your children.
27The Fear-of-God is a spring of living water
so you won’t go off drinking from poisoned wells.
28The mark of a good leader is loyal followers;
leadership is nothing without a following.
29Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding;
a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.
30A sound mind makes for a robust body,
but runaway emotions corrode the bones.
31You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless;
when you’re kind to the poor, you honor God.
32The evil of bad people leaves them out in the cold;
the integrity of good people creates a safe place for living.
33Lady Wisdom is at home in an understanding heart—
fools never even get to say hello.
34God-devotion makes a country strong;
God-avoidance leaves people weak.
35Diligent work gets a warm commendation;
shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.