King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
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The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
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Those who walk uprightly fear the Lord, but one who is devious in conduct despises him.
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall 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 no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is 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 will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
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A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.
6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
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A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for one who understands.
7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips 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 understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
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It is the wisdom of the clever to understand where they go, but the folly of fools misleads.
9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
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Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy God's favor.
10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
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The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.
11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
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The house of the wicked is destroyed, but the tent of the upright flourishes.
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of 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 is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
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Even in laughter the heart is sad, and the end of joy is grief.
14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
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The perverse get what their ways deserve, and the good, what their deeds deserve.
15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
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The simple believe everything, but the clever consider their steps.
16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
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The wise are cautious and turn away from evil, but the fool throws off restraint and is careless.
17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked 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 before the good; and 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 hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
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The poor are disliked even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.
21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
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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 err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
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Do they not err that plan evil? Those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.
23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
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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 riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
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The crown of the wise is their wisdom, but folly is the garland of fools.
25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
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A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is a betrayer.
26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of 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, to depart 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 the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
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The glory of a king is a multitude of people; without people a prince is ruined.
29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
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Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
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A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh, but passion makes the bones rot.
31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
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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 driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope 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 resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
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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 exalteth 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 The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
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A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
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.