New King James Version NKJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.
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Wisdom builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, But he who is perverse in his ways despises 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 a fool is a rod of pride, But the lips of the wise will 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 trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an 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 does 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 scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, But knowledge is easy to him who understands.
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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 you do not perceive 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 mock at sin, But among the upright there is favor.
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God scorns the wicked, but the upright enjoy his favor.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share 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 overthrown, 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 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 may sorrow, And the end of mirth 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 his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied from above.
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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 believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.
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The simple believes everything, but the prudent looks where he is going.
16 A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-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 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of wicked intentions 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 will 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 man is hated even by his own neighbor, But the rich has many friends.
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The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has 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 go astray who devise evil? But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.
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Do they not err that devise evil? Those who devise good meet loyalty and faithfulness.
23 In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty.
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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 delivers souls, But a deceitful witness speaks 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 there is strong confidence, And His children will 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 turn one away 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 a multitude of people is a king's honor, But in the lack of people is the downfall of a 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 who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts 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 life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones.
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A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh, but passion makes the bones rot.
31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.
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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 banished in his wickedness, But the righteous has a refuge 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 rests in the heart of him who has understanding, But what is in the heart 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 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 The king's favor is toward a wise servant, But his wrath is against him who causes shame.
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A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.