Revised Standard Version RSV
Good News Translation GNT
1 Wisdom builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.
1
Homes are made by the wisdom of women, but are destroyed by foolishness.
2 He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways despises him.
2
Be honest and you show that you have reverence for the Lord; be dishonest and you show that you do not.
3 The talk of a fool is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
3
Proud fools talk too much; the words of the wise protect them.
4 Where there are no oxen, there is no grain; but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
4
Without any oxen to pull the plow your barn will be empty, but with them it will be full of grain.
5 A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.
5
A reliable witness always tells the truth, but an unreliable one tells nothing but lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
6
Conceited people can never become wise, but intelligent people learn easily.
7 Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
7
Stay away from foolish people; they have nothing to teach you.
8 The wisdom of a prudent man is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.
8
Why is a clever person wise? Because he knows what to do. Why is a stupid person foolish? Because he only thinks he knows.
9 God scorns the wicked, but the upright enjoy his favor.
9
Foolish people don't care if they sin, but good people want to be forgiven.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.
10
Your joy is your own; your bitterness is your own. No one can share them with you.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
11
A good person's house will still be standing after an evildoer's house has been destroyed.
12 There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
12
What you think is the right road may lead to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart is sad, and the end of joy is grief.
13
Laughter may hide sadness. When happiness is gone, sorrow is always there.
14 A perverse man will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man with the fruit of his deeds.
14
Bad people will get what they deserve. Good people will be rewarded for their deeds.
15 The simple believes everything, but the prudent looks where he is going.
15
A fool will believe anything; smart people watch their step.
16 A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is careless.
16
Sensible people are careful to stay out of trouble, but stupid people are careless and act too quickly.
17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly, but a man of discretion is patient.
17
People with a hot temper do foolish things; wiser people remain calm.
18 The simple acquire folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
18
Ignorant people get what their foolishness deserves, but the clever are rewarded with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
19
Evil people will have to bow down to the righteous and humbly beg their favor.
20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.
20
No one likes the poor, not even their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor is a sinner, but happy is he who is kind to the poor.
21
If you want to be happy, be kind to the poor; it is a sin to despise anyone.
22 Do they not err that devise evil? Those who devise good meet loyalty and faithfulness.
22
You will earn the trust and respect of others if you work for good; if you work for evil, you are making a mistake.
23 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to want.
23
Work and you will earn a living; if you sit around talking you will be poor.
24 The crown of the wise is their wisdom, but folly is the garland of fools.
24
Wise people are rewarded with wealth, but fools are known by their foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is a betrayer.
25
A witness saves lives when he tells the truth; when he tells lies, he betrays people.
26 In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.
26
Reverence for the Lord gives confidence and security to a man and his family.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.
27
Do you want to avoid death? Reverence for the Lord is a fountain of life.
28 In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.
28
A king's greatness depends on how many people he rules; without them he is nothing.
29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
29
If you stay calm, you are wise, but if you have a hot temper, you only show how stupid you are.
30 A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh, but passion makes the bones rot.
30
Peace of mind makes the body healthy, but jealousy is like a cancer.
31 He who oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
31
If you oppress poor people, you insult the God who made them; but kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship.
32 The wicked is overthrown through his evil-doing, but the righteous finds refuge through his integrity.
32
Wicked people bring about their own downfall by their evil deeds, but good people are protected by their integrity.
33 Wisdom abides in the mind of a man of understanding, but it is not known in the heart of fools.
33
Wisdom is in every thought of intelligent people; fools know nothing about wisdom.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
34
Righteousness makes a nation great; sin is a disgrace to any nation.
35 A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
35
Kings are pleased with competent officials, but they punish those who fail them.
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.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.