| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. | 1Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands. |
| 2Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways despises him. | 2Whoever lives with integrity fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him. |
| 3By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them. | 3The proud speech of a fool brings a rod of discipline, but the lips of the wise protect them. |
| 4Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. | 4Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of an ox. |
| 5A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. | 5An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness utters lies. |
| 6A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. | 6A mocker seeks wisdom and doesn't find it, but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive. |
| 7Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. | 7Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech. |
| 8The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving. | 8The sensible man's wisdom is to consider his way, but the stupidity of fools deceives them. |
| 9Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance. | 9Fools mock at making restitution, but there is goodwill among the upright. |
| 10The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy. | 10The heart knows its own bitterness, and no outsider shares in its joy. |
| 11The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. | 11The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will stand. |
| 12There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. | 12There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. |
| 13Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief. | 13Even in laughter a heart may be sad, and joy may end in grief. |
| 14The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways. | 14The disloyal one will get what his conduct deserves, and a good man, what his deeds deserve. |
| 15The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. | 15The inexperienced one believes anything, but the sensible one watches his steps. |
| 16One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. | 16A wise man is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool is easily angered and is careless. |
| 17A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated. | 17A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a man who schemes is hated. |
| 18The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. | 18The inexperienced inherit foolishness, but the sensible are crowned with knowledge. |
| 19The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous. | 19The evil bow before those who are good, the wicked, at the gates of the righteous. |
| 20The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends. | 20A poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but there are many who love the rich. |
| 21Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. | 21The one who despises his neighbor sins, but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy. |
| 22Do they not go astray who devise evil? Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness. | 22Don't those who plan evil go astray? But those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness. |
| 23In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. | 23There is profit in all hard work, but endless talk leads only to poverty. |
| 24The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly. | 24The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the foolishness of fools produces foolishness. |
| 25A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful. | 25A truthful witness rescues lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful. |
| 26In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. | 26In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence and his children have a refuge. |
| 27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. | 27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning people away from the snares of death. |
| 28In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined. | 28A large population is a king's splendor, but a shortage of people is a ruler's devastation. |
| 29Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. | 29A patient person shows great understanding, but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness. |
| 30A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. | 30A tranquil heart is life to the body, but jealousy is rottenness to the bones. |
| 31Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. | 31The one who oppresses the poor person insults his Maker, but one who is kind to the needy honors Him. |
| 32The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death. | 32The wicked one is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous one has a refuge in his death. |
| 33Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. | 33Wisdom resides in the heart of the discerning; she is known even among fools. |
| 34Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. | 34Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. |
| 35A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully. | 35A king favors a wise servant, but his anger falls on a disgraceful one. |
|
