English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

1The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

2Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways despises him.

2He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, But he 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.

3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back, But the lips of the wise will protect them.

4Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

4Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.

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

5A trustworthy witness will not lie, But a false witness utters lies.

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

6A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.

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

7Leave the presence of a fool, Or you will not discern words of knowledge.

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

8The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way, But the foolishness of fools is deceit.

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

9Fools mock at sin, But among the upright there is good will.

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

10The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share 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 way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

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

13Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, And the end of joy 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 backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied with his.

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

15The naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers 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 away from evil, But a fool is arrogant and 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 of evil devices is hated.

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

18The naive 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 will bow down before the good, 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 is hated even by his neighbor, But those who love the rich are many.

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

21He who despises his neighbor sins, But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.

22Do they not go astray who devise evil? Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.

22Will they not go astray who devise evil? But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.

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

23In all labor there is profit, But mere 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 riches, But the folly of fools is foolishness.

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

25A truthful witness saves lives, But he who utters lies is treacherous.

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

26In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And his children will have 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, That one may avoid the snares of death.

28In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.

28In a multitude of people is a king's glory, But in the dearth of people is a prince's ruin.

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

29He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.

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

30A tranquil heart is life to the body, But passion is rottenness to the bones.

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

31He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.

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

32The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing, But the righteous has a refuge when he dies.

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

33Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, But in the hearts of fools it is made known.

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.

35The king's favor is toward a servant who acts wisely, But his anger is toward him 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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