English Standard Version ESV
New Revised Standard NRS
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 the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
2 Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises him.
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Those who walk uprightly fear the Lord, but one who is devious in conduct despises him.
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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The talk of fools is a rod for their backs, but the lips of the wise preserve 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, there is no grain; abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.
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A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
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A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for one who understands.
7 Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
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Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not find words of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.
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It is the wisdom of the clever to understand where they go, but the folly of fools misleads.
9 Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.
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Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy God's favor.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.
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The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares 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 is destroyed, but the tent of the upright flourishes.
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 seems right to a person, but its end is the way 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 is sad, and the end of joy is 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 perverse get what their ways deserve, and the good, what their deeds deserve.
15 The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
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The simple believe everything, but the clever consider 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 are cautious and turn away from evil, but the fool throws off restraint and is careless.
17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.
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One who is quick-tempered acts foolishly, and the schemer is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
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The simple are adorned with folly, but the clever are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
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The evil bow down before the good, 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 disliked 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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Those who despise their neighbors are sinners, but happy are those who are kind to the poor.
22 Do they not go astray who devise evil? Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.
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Do they not err that plan evil? Those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.
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In all toil there is 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 crown of the wise is their wisdom, but folly is the garland of fools.
25 A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.
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A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is a betrayer.
26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.
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In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and one's children will have 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, so that one may avoid 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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The glory of a king is a multitude of people; without people 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 slow to anger has great understanding, but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30 A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.
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A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh, but passion makes the bones rot.
31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
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Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who are kind to the needy honor him.
32 The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death.
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The wicked are overthrown by their evildoing, but the righteous find a refuge in their integrity.
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 is at home in the mind of one who has understanding, but it is not known in the heart of fools.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
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Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to 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 servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.