Every Wise Woman Builds Her House
1Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
2He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
6A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
7Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
9Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
10The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
11The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
12There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
13Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
14The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
15The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
16A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
17He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
21He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
22Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
23In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
24The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
25A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
26In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
28In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
30A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
31He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
32The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
33Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
34Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
35The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
The Wise Woman
1 Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears Yahweh, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
3 The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
7 Stay away from a foolish man, for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.
11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.
14 The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
15 A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
16 A wise man fears, and shuns evil, but the fool is hotheaded and reckless.
17 He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who has pity on the poor.
22 Don’t they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
23 In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.
25 A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.
26 In the fear of Yahweh is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.
27 The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life, turning people from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
30 The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
32 The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but in death, the righteous has a refuge.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
The Wise Woman
1 Every wise woman builds her house,
but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2 He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD,
but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.
3 The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back,
but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.
5 An honest witness does not deceive,
but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.
6 A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
7 Stay away from a foolish man;
you will gain no knowledge from his speech.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools deceives them.
9 Fools mock the making of amends,
but goodwill is found among the upright.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares in its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
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 of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and joy may end in sorrow.
14 The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways,
but a good man is rewarded for his ways.
15 The simple man believes every word,
but the prudent man watches his steps.
16 A wise man fears a and turns from evil,
but a fool is careless and reckless.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
and a devious man is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor man is hated even by his neighbor,
but many are those who love the rich.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins,
but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
22 Do not those who contrive evil go astray?
But those who plan goodness find b loving devotion and faithfulness.
23 There is profit in all labor,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the effort of fools is folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who utters lies is deceitful.
26 He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence,
and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
turning a man from the snares of death.
28 A large population is a king’s splendor,
but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.
29 A patient man has great understanding,
but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.
31 Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin,
but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning;
even among fools she is known. c
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 A king delights in a wise servant,
but his anger falls on the shameful.
Footnotes:
16 a Or fears the LORD
22 b Or show
33 c Hebrew; LXX and Syriac but among fools she is not known
Every Wise Woman Builds Her House
1Every wise woman hath builded her house, And the foolish with her hands breaketh it down.
2Whoso is walking in his uprightness is fearing Jehovah, And the perverted in his ways is despising Him.
3In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, And the lips of the wise preserve them.
4Without oxen a stall is clean, And great is the increase by the power of the ox.
5A faithful witness lieth not, And a false witness breatheth out lies.
6A scorner hath sought wisdom, and it is not, And knowledge to the intelligent is easy.
7Go from before a foolish man, Or thou hast not known the lips of knowledge.
8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, And the folly of fools is deceit.
9Fools mock at a guilt-offering, And among the upright -- a pleasing thing.
10The heart knoweth its own bitterness, And with its joy a stranger doth not intermeddle.
11The house of the wicked is destroyed, And the tent of the upright flourisheth.
12There is a way -- right before a man, And its latter end are ways of death.
13Even in laughter is the heart pained, And the latter end of joy is affliction.
14From his ways is the backslider in heart filled, And a good man -- from his fruits.
15The simple giveth credence to everything, And the prudent attendeth to his step.
16The wise is fearing and turning from evil, And a fool is transgressing and is confident.
17Whoso is short of temper doth folly, And a man of wicked devices is hated.
18The simple have inherited folly, And the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19The evil have bowed down before the good, And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20Even of his neighbour is the poor hated, And those loving the rich are many.
21Whoso is despising his neighbour sinneth, Whoso is favouring the humble, O his happiness.
22Do not they err who are devising evil? And kindness and truth are to those devising good,
23In all labour there is advantage, And a thing of the lips is only to want.
24The crown of the wise is their wealth, The folly of fools is folly.
25A true witness is delivering souls, And a deceitful one breatheth out lies.
26In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence, And to His sons there is a refuge.
27The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, To turn aside from snares of death.
28In the multitude of a people is the honour of a king, And in lack of people the ruin of a prince.
29Whoso is slow to anger is of great understanding, And whoso is short in temper is exalting folly.
30A healed heart is life to the flesh, And rottenness to the bones is envy.
31An oppressor of the poor reproacheth his Maker, And whoso is honouring Him Is favouring the needy.
32In his wickedness is the wicked driven away, And trustful in his death is the righteous.
33In the heart of the intelligent wisdom doth rest. And in the midst of fools it is known.
34Righteousness exalteth a nation, And the goodliness of peoples is a sin-offering.
35The favour of a king is to a wise servant, And an object of his wrath is one causing shame!
