King James Version KJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
1
Wisdom builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.
2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
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He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways 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 a fool is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will 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; but 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 a man of understanding.
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 meet 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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The wisdom of a prudent man is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.
9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
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God scorns the wicked, but the upright enjoy his 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 will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
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 which seems right to a man, 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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A perverse man will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man with the fruit of his deeds.
15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
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The simple believes everything, but the prudent looks where he is going.
16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
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A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a 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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A man of quick temper acts foolishly, but a man of discretion is patient.
18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
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The simple acquire folly, but the prudent 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 is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.
21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
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He who despises his neighbor is a sinner, but happy is he who is 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 devise evil? Those who devise good meet 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 tends only to want.
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 his 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, 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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In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but 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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He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he 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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He who oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
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The wicked is overthrown through his evil-doing, but the righteous finds refuge through his 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 abides in the mind of a man of 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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.