Lexham English Bible LEB
New International Version NIV
1 The {wisest of women} builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her hands.
1
The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
2 He who walks in uprightness fears Yahweh, but he who is devious [in] his ways displeases him.
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Whoever fears the LORD walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways.
3 In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride, but the lips of the wise preserve them.
3
A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 {When there are no} oxen the manger is empty, but an abundance of crops [comes] by the strength of an ox.
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Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.
5 A faithful witness does not lie, but he who breathes out falsehood is a witness of deceit.
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An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, but there is none, but knowledge {comes easily to him who understands}.
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The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
7 Leave {the presence of a foolish man}, [for] you will not [come to] know {words of knowledge}.
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Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips.
8 The wisdom of the clever is understanding his ways, but the folly of fools is deceit.
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The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.
9 Fools mock [the] guilt offering, but among the upright, it is favorable.
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Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.
10 The heart knows the bitterness of its soul, but in its joy, it will not share itself with a stranger.
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Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
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The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way [that seems] upright {to} a man, but its end [is] the way of death.
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There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
13 Even in laughter, a heart may be sad, and the end of joy [may be] grief.
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Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief.
14 From his ways, the perverse of heart will be satisfied, and {from his own}, [so shall] a good man.
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The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs.
15 The simple will believe every word, but the clever will consider his step.
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The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.
16 The wise is cautious and turns from evil, but the fool throws off restraint and is confident.
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The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
17 He who is short of {temper} will act foolishly, and the man who schemes will be hated.
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A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.
18 The simple are adorned [with] folly, but the clever are crowned with knowledge.
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The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
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Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the lovers of the rich are many.
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The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor is a sinner, but he who has mercy on the poor blesses him.
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It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.
22 Have they not erred, those who plan evil? But loyalty and faithfulness [belong to] those who plan good.
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Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.
23 In all toil, there is profit, but the {talk} of lips [leads] only to poverty.
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All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise [is] their wealth; the folly of fools is folly.
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The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields folly.
25 He who saves lives [is] a witness of truth, but he who utters lies [is] a betrayer.
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A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.
26 In the fear of Yahweh, there is confidence of strength, and for his children, there will be refuge.
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Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.
27 The fear of Yahweh [is] a fountain of life, [in order] to turn from the snares of death.
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The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the glory of the king, but without a population, a prince [is] ruined.
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A large population is a king’s glory, but without subjects a prince is ruined.
29 [He who is] slow to anger [has] great understanding, but the hasty of spirit exalts folly.
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Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
30 A heart of tranquility [is] life [to the] flesh, but causes bones of passion to rot.
30
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor insults him who made him, but he who has mercy on the poor honors him.
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Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
32 By his evildoing, the wicked will be overthrown, and the righteous will find refuge in his death.
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When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.
33 In the heart of him who has understanding, wisdom rests, but [even] in the midst of fools it becomes known.
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Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known.
34 Righteousness will exalt a nation, but sin [is] a reproach to a people.
34
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.
35 The favor of a king [is] for the servant who deals wisely, but his wrath will be [on] him who acts shamefully.
35
A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant arouses his fury.
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.