How Wise People Live

1Every wise woman builds up her household,

but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

2Someone whose conduct is upright fears the LORD,

but whoever is devious in his ways despises him.

3What a fool says bringsa a rod to his back,

but the words of the wise protect them.

4Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is clean,

but profits come through the strength of the ox.

5A trustworthy witness does not deceive,

but a false witness spews lies.

6A mocker seeks wisdom and findsb none,

but learning comes easily to someone who understands.

7Stay away from a foolish man,

for you will not find competent advice.

8The wisdom of the prudent helps him know how to live,

but a fool’s stupidity deceives him.

9Fools make fun of guilt,

but among the upright there are good intentions.

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.

12There is a pathway that seems right to a man,

but in the end it’s a road to death.

13Even in laughter there may be heartache,

and at the end of joy there may be grief.

14The faithless one will pay for his behavior,c

but a good man will be rewardedd for his.

15An unthinking person believes everything,

but the prudent one thinks before acting.e

16The wise person fears and turns away from evil,

but a fool is reckless and overconfident.

17A quick tempered person does foolish things,

and a devious man is hated.

18The naïve inherit folly,

but the careful are crowned with knowledge.

19Evil men will bow down in the presence of good men

and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20The poor person is shunned by his neighbor,

but many are the friends of the wealthy.

21Whoever despises his neighbor sins,

but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.

22Won’t those who plot evil go astray?

But gracious love and truth are for those who plan what is good.

23In hard work there is always profit,

but too much chatteringf leads to poverty.

24The crown of the wise is their wealth,

but the stupidity of fools is just that—stupidity!

25A truthful witness saves lives,

but the person who lies is deceitful.

26Rock-solid security is foundg in the fear of the LORD,

and within it one’s children find refuge.

27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,

enabling anyone to escape the snares of death.

28A large population is a king’s glory,

but a shortage of people is a ruler’s ruin.

29Being slow to get angry compares to great understanding

as being quick-tempered compares to stupidity.

30A tranquil mind brings life to one’s body,

but jealousy causes one’s bones to rot.

31Whoever oppresses the poor defies their Creator,

but whoever is kind to the needy honors them.

32The wicked person is thrown down by his own wrongdoing,

but the righteous person has a place of safety in death.h

33Wisdom is at rest in the mind of the discerning—

even fools know this.i

34Righteousness makes a nation great,

but sin diminishesj any people.

35The king approves the wise servant,

but he is angry at anyone who acts shamefully.