English Standard Version ESV
New International Version NIV
1 The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.
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The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
2 Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways despises him.
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Whoever fears the LORD walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways.
3 By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
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A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the 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 a false witness breathes out lies.
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An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
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The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
7 Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet 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 prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.
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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 at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.
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Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.
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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 right to a man, but its end is the way to 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 the heart may ache, 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 The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
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The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs.
15 The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
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The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.
16 One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.
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The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.
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A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent 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, 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 rich has many friends.
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The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.
21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
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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 Do they not go astray who devise evil? Those who devise good meetsteadfast love and faithfulness.
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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 mere talk tends 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, but the folly of fools brings folly.
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The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.
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A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a 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 the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away 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 a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.
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A large population is a king’s glory, but without subjects a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
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Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
30 A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.
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A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy 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 The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds 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 Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.
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Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
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Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.
35 A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
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A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant arouses his fury.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
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.