English Standard Version

International Standard Version

1The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.

1Every wise woman builds up her household, but the 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.

2Someone whose conduct is upright fears the LORD, but whoever 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.

3What a fool says brings a rod to his back, but the words 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 clean, but profits come through the strength of the ox.

5A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.

5A trustworthy witness does not deceive, but a false witness spews lies.

6A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

6A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but learning comes easily to someone who understands.

7Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

7Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find competent advice.

8The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.

8The wisdom of the prudent helps him know how to live, but a fool's stupidity deceives him.

9Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.

9Fools make fun of guilt, but among the upright there are good intentions.

10The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.

10The heart knows its own bitterness— an outsider cannot share 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 flourish.

12There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

12There is a pathway that seems right to a man, but in the end it's a road to death.

13Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.

13Even in laughter there may be heartache, and at the end of joy there may be 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 faithless one will pay for his behavior, but a good man will be rewarded for his.

15The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

15An unthinking person believes everything, but the prudent one thinks before acting.

16One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.

16The wise person fears and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and overconfident.

17A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.

17A quick tempered person does foolish things, and a devious man is hated.

18The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

18The naïve inherit folly, but the careful are crowned with knowledge.

19The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

19Evil men will bow down in the presence of good men and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.

20The poor person is shunned by his neighbor, but many are the friends of the wealthy.

21Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

21Whoever 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.

22Won't those who plot evil go astray? But gracious love and truth are for those who plan what is good.

23In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.

23In hard work there is always profit, but too much chattering leads 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 stupidity of fools is just that—stupidity!

25A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.

25A truthful witness saves lives, but the person who lies is deceitful.

26In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.

26Rock-solid security is found in the fear of the LORD, and within it one's children find 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, enabling anyone to escape 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 glory, but a shortage of people is a ruler's ruin.

29Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

29Being slow to get angry compares to great understanding as being quick-tempered compares to stupidity.

30A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.

30A tranquil mind brings life to one's body, but jealousy causes one's bones to rot.

31Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

31Whoever oppresses the poor defies their Creator, but whoever is kind to the needy honors them.

32The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death.

32The wicked person is thrown down by his own wrongdoing, but the righteous person has a place of safety in death.

33Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.

33Wisdom is at rest in the mind of the discerning— even fools know this.

34Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

34Righteousness makes a nation great, but sin diminishes any people.

35A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

35The king approves the wise servant, but he is angry at anyone who acts shamefully.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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