The Wise Woman

1The wisest of women builds her house,

and a foolish woman with her own hands tears it down.

2The one walking in his uprightness is fearful of YHWH,

and the one devious in his ways despises Him.

3In the mouth of a fool is a branch of pride,

and the lips of the wise ones guard them.

4With no oxen, the trough is empty,

and an abundance of produce is by the strength of an ox.

5A witness of faithfulness does not lie,

and a witness of deception breathes out lies.

6A scoffer seeks wisdom, and there is none,

and knowledge is easy to the discerning one.

7Depart from in front of a man who is foolish,

for you will not know there the lips of knowledge.

8The wisdom of a prudent one is to understand his way,

and the folly of fools is deceit.

9Fools mock the guilt offering,

and among the upright ones is favor.

10The heart knows the bitterness of its own soul,

and in its joy a stranger does not share.

11The house of the wicked ones will be destroyed,

and the tent of the upright ones will flourish.

12There is a way right before the face of a man,

and its end is the way of death.

13Even in laughter a heart may be pained,

and the end of joy is grief.

14The one turning back in heart will be filled from his ways,

and a good man, from himself.

15The simple one affirms every word,

and the prudent one considers his step.

16A wise one fears† and turns aside from evil,

and a fool is transgressing and is confident.

17One short of nostrils acts with foolishness,

and a man of schemes is hated.

18The simple ones inherit foolishness,

and the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19The evil ones will bow before the face of of good ones,

and wicked ones at the gates of the righteous one.

20The poor one is hated even by his neighbor,

and those loving the rich one are many.

21The one despising his neighbor sins,

and the one showing favor to the poor is blessed.

22Do they not go astray who are planning evil?

And loving devotion and truth are unto those planning good.

23In all labor there is profit,

and a word of the lips is only to poverty.

24The crown of the wise is their wealth;

the folly of fools is folly.

25A witness of truth is delivering souls,

and one who breathes out lies is deceitful.

26In the fear of YHWH confidence is strong,

and for his sons there is a refuge.

27The fear of YHWH is a fountain of life,

to turn aside from the snares of death.

28In a multitude of people is the glory of a king,

and in a lack of people is the ruin of a prince.

29The one slow to anger is great in understanding,

and the one short of temper lifts up folly.

30A heart of healing is life to the body,

and jealousy is rottenness to the bones.

31The one oppressing the poor reproaches his Maker,

and the one honoring Him shows favor to the needy.

32By his evil a wicked one is thrust down,

and a righteous one finds refuge in his death.

33In the heart of a discerning one wisdom rests,

and in the midst of fools she makes herself known.†

34Righteousness exalts a nation,

and sin is a reproach of peoples.

35The favor of a king is toward a wise servant,

and his wrath is to one causing shame.