1Every wise woman buildeth her house ; But the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands . 2He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah ; But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him . 3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his pride ; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them . 4Where no oxen are , the crib is clean ; But much increase is by the strength of the ox . 5A faithful witness will not lie ; But a false witness uttereth lies . 6A scoffer seeketh wisdom , and findeth it not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding. 7Go into the presence of a foolish man , And thou shalt not perceive in him the lips of knowledge . 8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way ; But the folly of fools is deceit . 9A trespass-offering mocketh fools; But among the upright there is good will .
The Heart and Its Speech
10The heart knoweth its own bitterness ; And a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy . 11The house of the wicked shall be overthrown ; But the tent of the upright shall flourish . 12There is a way which seemeth right unto a man ; But the end thereof are the ways of death . 13Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful ; And the end of mirth is heaviness . 14The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways ; And a good man shall be satisfied from himself . 15The simple believeth every word ; But the prudent man looketh well to his going.
The Path of Life
16A wise man feareth , and departeth from evil ; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident. 17He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices 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 is hated even of his own neighbor ; But the rich hath many friends . 21He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth ; But he that hath pity on the poor , happy is he . 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 the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury .
Community and Relationships
24The crown of the wise is their riches ; But the folly of fools is only folly. 25A true witness delivereth souls ; But he that uttereth lies causeth deceit . 26In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence ; And his children shall have a place of refuge . 27The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life , That one may depart from the snares of death . 28In the multitude of people is the king ’s glory ; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince . 29He that is slow to anger is of great understanding ; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. 30A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh ; But envy is the rottenness of the bones . 31He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker ; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him . 32The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing; But the righteous hath a refuge in his death . 33Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding ; But that which is in the inward part of fools is made known . 34Righteousness exalteth a nation ; But sin is a reproach to any people . 35The king ’s favor is toward a servant that dealeth wisely ; But his wrath will be against him that causeth shame.