¹ The ⌞wisest of women⌟¹ builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her hands.

1. Literally “wise ones of women”

² He who walks in uprightness fears Yahweh, but he who is devious in his ways displeases him.

³ In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride, but the lips of the wise preserve them.

⁴ ⌞When there are no⌟¹ oxen the manger is empty, but an abundance of crops comes by the strength of an ox.²

1. Literally “In there is no”
2. Hebrew “bull”

⁵ A faithful witness does not lie, but he who breathes out falsehood is a witness of deceit.

⁶ A scoffer seeks wisdom, but there is none, but knowledge ⌞comes easily to him who understands⌟.¹

1. Literally “to one who understands it comes easy”

⁷ Leave ⌞the presence of a foolish man⌟,¹ for you will not come to know ⌞words of knowledge⌟.²

1. Literally “from the presence belonging to a man of foolishness”
2. Literally “lips of knowledge”

⁸ The wisdom of the clever is understanding his ways, but the folly of fools is deceit.

⁹ Fools mock¹ the guilt offering, but among the upright, it is favorable.

1. Hebrew “he mocks”

¹⁰ The heart¹ knows the bitterness of its soul,² but in its joy, it will not share itself with a stranger.

1. Or “mind”
2. Or “life,” or “inner self”

¹¹ The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.

¹² There is a way that seems upright ⌞to⌟¹ a man, but its end is the way of death.

1. Literally “to the face of”

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

¹⁴ From his ways, the perverse of heart will be satisfied, and ⌞from his own⌟,¹ so shall a good man.

1. Literally “from upon him”

¹⁵ The simple will believe every word, but the clever will consider his step.

¹⁶ The wise is cautious and turns from evil, but the fool throws off restraint and is confident.

¹⁷ He who is short of ⌞temper⌟¹ will act foolishly, and the man who schemes will be hated.

1. Literally “nostril”

¹⁸ The simple are adorned with folly, but the clever are crowned with knowledge.

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

²⁰ The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the lovers of the rich are many.

²¹ He who despises his neighbor is a sinner, but he who has mercy on the poor blesses him.

²² Have they not erred, those who plan evil? But loyalty and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.

²³ In all toil, there is profit, but the ⌞talk⌟¹ of lips leads only to poverty.

1. Literally “word, matter, thing”

²⁴ The crown of the wise is their wealth; the folly of fools is folly.

²⁵ He who saves lives¹ is a witness of truth, but he who utters lies is a betrayer.

1. Or “souls,” or “inner selves”

²⁶ In the fear of Yahweh, there is confidence of strength, and for his children, there will be refuge.

²⁷ The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life, in order to turn from the snares of death.

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

²⁹ He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but the hasty of spirit¹ exalts folly.

1. Or “breath”

³⁰ A heart¹ of tranquility² is life to the flesh, but causes bones of passion to rot.

1. Or “mind”
2. Or “he who heals”

³¹ He who oppresses the poor insults him who made him, but he who has mercy on the poor honors him.

³² By his evildoing, the wicked will be overthrown, and the righteous will find refuge in his death.

³³ In the heart¹ of him who has understanding, wisdom rests, but even in the midst of fools it becomes known.

1. Or “mind”

³⁴ Righteousness will exalt a nation, but sin is a reproach to a people.

³⁵ The favor of a king is for the servant who deals wisely, but his wrath will be on him who acts shamefully.