Wisdom Builds Up, Folly Tears Down
14 A wise woman builds her house,
but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2 The one who walks uprightly fears Adonai,
but one devious in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod for his back,
but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the stalls are clean,
but from the strength of the ox comes an abundant harvest.
5 A trustworthy witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes out lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom yet finds none,
but knowledge is easy to the discerning.
7 Walk away from a fool—
for you will find no knowledge on his lips.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to consider his way,
but the folly of fools is deception.
9 Fools mock guilt of sin,
but among the upright is goodwill.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no one else can share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be demolished,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and the end of joy may be grief.
14 A backsliding heart partakes of its ways,
and a good man is rewarded for his.
15 The naïve believes every word,
but the shrewd discerns his steps.
16 The wise fears and turns away from evil,
but the fool is hotheaded and reckless.
17 One with a short temper acts foolishly,
and one with crafty schemes is hated.
18 The naïve inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 Evil men will bow in the presence of the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
Poverty and Riches
20 The poor is hated even by his neighbor,
but many are those who love the rich.
21 Whoever despises his neighbor sins,
but whoever is gracious to the needy is blessed.
22 Indeed those who plot evil go astray
but grace and truth come to those who plan good.
23 In all hard work there is profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
but the folly of fools is foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who utters lies is treacherous.
26 In the fear of Adonai one has strong confidence.
It will be a refuge for His children.
27 The fear of Adonai is a fountain of life,
turning one from the snares of death.
28 A large population is a king’s glory,
but lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.
29 One who is slow to anger shows great understanding,
but a quick-tempered one exalts folly.
30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,
but envy is rottenness to the bones.
31 The one who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked is brought down in his calamity
yet the righteous has a refuge even in death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning,
and even among fools she is known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king shows favor toward a servant who acts wisely,
but his wrath is on one who is disgraceful.