King James Bible

International Standard Version

1Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

1Every wise woman builds up her household, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

2He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

2Someone whose conduct is upright fears the LORD, but whoever is devious in his ways despises him.

3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

3What a fool says brings a rod to his back, but the words of the wise protect them.

4Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

4Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is clean, but profits come through the strength of the ox.

5A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

5A trustworthy witness does not deceive, but a false witness spews lies.

6A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

6A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but learning comes easily to someone who understands.

7Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

7Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find competent advice.

8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

8The wisdom of the prudent helps him know how to live, but a fool's stupidity deceives him.

9Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

9Fools make fun of guilt, but among the upright there are good intentions.

10The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

10The heart knows its own bitterness— an outsider cannot share in its joy.

11The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

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

12There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

12There is a pathway that seems right to a man, but in the end it's a road to death.

13Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

13Even in laughter there may be heartache, and at the end of joy there may be grief.

14The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

14The faithless one will pay for his behavior, but a good man will be rewarded for his.

15The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

15An unthinking person believes everything, but the prudent one thinks before acting.

16A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

16The wise person fears and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and overconfident.

17He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

17A quick tempered person does foolish things, and a devious man is hated.

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

18The naïve inherit folly, but the careful are crowned with knowledge.

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

19Evil men will bow down in the presence of good men and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

20The poor person is shunned by his neighbor, but many are the friends of the wealthy.

21He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

21Whoever despises his neighbor sins, but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.

22Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

22Won't those who plot evil go astray? But gracious love and truth are for those who plan what is good.

23In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

23In hard work there is always profit, but too much chattering leads to poverty.

24The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

24The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the stupidity of fools is just that—stupidity!

25A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

25A truthful witness saves lives, but the person who lies is deceitful.

26In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

26Rock-solid security is found in the fear of the LORD, and within it one's children find refuge.

27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, enabling anyone to escape 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.

28A large population is a king's glory, but a shortage of people is a ruler's ruin.

29He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

29Being slow to get angry compares to great understanding as being quick-tempered compares to stupidity.

30A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

30A tranquil mind brings life to one's body, but jealousy causes one's bones to rot.

31He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

31Whoever oppresses the poor defies their Creator, but whoever is kind to the needy honors them.

32The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

32The wicked person is thrown down by his own wrongdoing, but the righteous person has a place of safety in death.

33Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

33Wisdom is at rest in the mind of the discerning— even fools know this.

34Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

34Righteousness makes a nation great, but sin diminishes any people.

35The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

35The king approves the wise servant, but he is angry at anyone who acts shamefully.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.