1 A wise woman builds her house,
but a fool tears it down with her hands.
2 The man who fears God lives honestly,
but the man that is crooked despises Him.
3 The speech of a fool is a rod for his back,
but the words of the wise preserve them
4 Where no oxen are, there can be no corn;
but plenty of oxen means plenty of produce.
5 A trustworthy witness does not lie.
but a false witness utters lies.
6 A scorner seeks wisdom in vain,
but to prudent men knowledge is easy.
7 Get you out of a foolish man's presence,
for his lips do not utter knowledge.
8 The shrewd show their wisdom by watching their way,
but the folly of foolish men leads them astray.
9 Guilt has its home among fools,
but God's favour abides with the upright.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger can share in its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 Many a way seems straight to a man
which leads at the last to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may be sad,
and the end of joy may be sorrow.
14 He who swerves from the right will pay dearly for his conduct,
but the good man will reap the fruit of his deeds.
15 The simple believe every word,
but the shrewd look well to their steps.
16 A wise man anxiously shrinks from evil,
but a fool plunges into it jauntily.
17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
but a prudent man is patient.
18 The simple come into possession of folly,
But the wise win the crown of knowledge.
19 The evil must bow before the good,
and the wicked crouch down at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor man is hated even by his neighbour,
but the rich has many friends.
21 He that despises his neighbour sins,
but happy is he that does pity the poor.
22 Surely those that plan evil will stray to destruction,
but those that plan good meet with kindness and faithfulness.
23 In all labour there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to penury.
24 The crown of the wise is their wisdom,
and the garland of fools is their folly.
25 A truthful witness saves life.
but one who speaks falsely destroys it.
26 He that fears the Lord has strong ground of confidence.
To the children of such he is refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
whereby to avoid the snares of death.
28 Glory falls to the monarch whose people are many,
but a prince comes to ruin whose people are few.
29 The man of patience shows much good sense,
but the quick-tempered man shows great folly.
30 A tranquil mind is the life of the body,
but passion rots the bones.
31 He that crushes the needy reviles his maker,
but he that is kind to the poor does him honour.
32 The wicked is overthrown by his wickedness.
but the righteous has a refuge in his integrity,
33 wisdom dwells in the heart of the prudent,
but folly in the heart of fools.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a people's disgrace.
35 A competent servant enjoys the king's favour,
but scandalous service incurs his wrath.