Proverbs

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

1A wise woman builds up her house. A foolish one tears her own house down with her own hands.

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

2The person who lives an honest life respects the LORD. The person whose ways are crooked shows he cares nothing for Him.

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

3A fool's proud talk brings a beating on his own back. The words of the wise keep them safe.

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 box stays clean and empty. But a strong ox brings in a big harvest.

NoteA "crib" here is the box that animals eat from. A clean, empty box sounds nice, but it means there are no oxen to do the plowing.

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

5An honest witness will not lie. A false witness pours out one lie after another.

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

6Someone who mocks looks for wisdom and never finds it. But knowledge comes easily to a person who wants to understand.

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

7Walk away from a foolish man once you see there is nothing wise in anything he says.

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

8Careful people are wise because they think about where their life is going. Fools fool themselves, and that is their folly.

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

9Fools make a joke out of doing wrong. But among people who do right there is goodwill.

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

10Your heart knows its own sadness. And no outsider can fully share in its gladness.

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

11The house of a wicked person will be torn down. But the tent of an honest person will do well.

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

12There is a road that looks right to a person. But in the end it leads to death.

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

13Even while a person laughs, the heart can ache. And that happy time can end in sadness.

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

14The person who turns away in his heart gets a full share of his own ways. A good man is repaid from his.

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

15A person who believes anything believes every word he hears. A careful person watches where he steps.

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

16A wise man is careful and turns away from evil. A fool blows up in anger and is sure of himself.

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

17A man with a quick temper acts foolishly. And a man who plans harm is hated.

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

18Foolish people end up with more foolishness. Careful people are crowned with knowledge.

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

19Evil people will bow down before good people. The wicked will bow at the gates of those who do right.

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

20A poor man is disliked even by his own neighbor. But a rich man has many friends.

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

21Whoever looks down on his neighbor is doing wrong. But whoever is kind to the poor is happy.

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

22Don't those who plan evil go wrong? But those who plan good will receive kindness and faithfulness.

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

23There is something to gain in every kind of hard work. But talk with no work behind it leads only to poverty.

Note"Penury" is an old word for being very poor.

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

24Riches are a crown for the wise. But all that fools get from their folly is more folly.

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

25A truthful witness saves lives. But a witness who cheats speaks nothing but lies.

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

26Respecting the LORD gives a person strong confidence. And His children will have a safe place to go.

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

27Respecting the LORD is a fountain of life. It turns a person away from the traps that lead to 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 number of people is a king's glory. A ruler with too few people is headed for ruin.

NoteIn the King James Version, "want" means lack, not desire. So "want of people" means not having enough people.

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

29A man who is slow to get angry has great understanding. A man with a quick temper puts his foolishness on display.

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

30A calm heart gives life to the body. But envy rots the bones.

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

31Whoever crushes the poor insults their Maker. But whoever is kind to the poor honors Him.

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

32The wicked man is knocked down by his own wickedness. But the man who does right has hope even 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 rests quietly in the heart of a person who understands. But what is inside fools becomes known to everyone.

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

34Doing what is right lifts a nation up. But sin brings shame on any people.

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

35A king is pleased with a servant who is wise. But his anger falls on the servant who brings shame.