The Ways of Life and Death
1 The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.
1 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,
But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.
But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
But the lips of the wise will preserve them.
But the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, the [a]trough is clean;
But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.
But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.
5 A faithful witness does not lie,
But a false witness will utter lies.
But a false witness will utter lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it,
But knowledge is easy to him who understands.
But knowledge 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 knowledge.
When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But the folly of fools is deceit.
But the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Fools mock at [b]sin,
But among the upright there is favor.
But among the upright there is favor.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.
And a stranger does not share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.
But the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
But its end is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,
And the end of mirth may be grief.
And the end of mirth may be grief.
14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied [c]from above.
But a good man will be satisfied [c]from above.
15 The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps.
But the prudent considers well his steps.
16 A wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self-confident.
But a fool rages and is self-confident.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of wicked intentions is hated.
And a man of wicked intentions is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil will bow before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor,
But [d]the rich has many friends.
But [d]the rich has many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins;
But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
But 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.
But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit,
But [e]idle chatter leads only to poverty.
But [e]idle chatter leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the foolishness of fools is folly.
But the foolishness of fools is folly.
25 A true witness [f]delivers souls,
But a deceitful witness speaks lies.
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.
And His children will have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.
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.
But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.
29 He who is slow to wrath has great understanding,
But he who is [g]impulsive exalts folly.
But he who is [g]impulsive exalts folly.
30 A sound heart is life to the body,
But envy is rottenness to the bones.
But envy is rottenness to the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.
32 The wicked is banished in his wickedness,
But the righteous has a refuge in his death.
But the righteous has a refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
But what is in the heart of fools is made known.
But what is in the heart of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a [h]reproach to any people.
But sin is a [h]reproach to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a wise servant,
But his wrath is against him who causes shame.
But his wrath is against him who causes shame.