Proverbs

14* Women’s wisdom builds its house,

but foolishness is demolishing it with her own hands.

2 He who fears Jehovah goes straightforwardly,

but he who despises him takes dodging courses.

4 With no cattle there is a clean manger,

but there is plenty of produce by a horned beast’s strength.

5 A trustworthy witness will not lie,

but a false witness breathes lies.

6 A cynic hunts for wisdom and does not find any,

but knowledge is an easy thing to a man of sense.

7* Go face to face with a foolish man,

and you have not known lips of knowledge.

8 A shrewd man’s wisdom consists in understanding his course;

but the stupidity of fools, in cheating.

9** Reprobates’ homes are held guilty,

but upright men’s houses are accepted.

10 A heart knows its own grief,

and a stranger does not mix in its gladness.

11 Wrong-doers’ house will be rooted out,

but upright men’s home will bloom.

13 Even in laughter a heart will feel pain,

and the sequel of gladness is sorrow.

15 A simpleton believes every word,

but a shrewd man considers his steps.

16 A wise man is afraid and gets out of the way of harm,

but a fool is hotheaded and confident.

17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,

but a practical man bears.

18* Simpletons come in for an estate of ignorance,

but shrewd men crown themselves with knowledge.

19 Bad men are brought low before good men

and wrong-doers are at a right-doer’s gates.

20 A poor man is hateful even to his friend;

but there are many to love a rich man.

21* One who despises his neighbor is sinning,

but happy is he who shows favor to poverty-stricken men.

22* Practitioners of evil are on the wrong track indeed,

but practitioners of good work in friendship and loyalty.

23 By any hard work there will be a clear profit;

but lip-talk comes only to a deficit.

24* Wise men’s crown is shrewdness,

but fools’ garland is foolishness.

25* A true witness is a lifesaver,

but a lie-blower is a disappointment.

26* In the fear of Jehovah is a strong reliance,

and to one’s children that will be a refuge.

27 The fear of Jehovah is a spring of life

for keeping away from the snares of death.

28 In the numerousness of a people is a king’s majesty,

but in lack of folk is a potentate’s ruin.

29** A patient man shows great intelligence,

but an impatient man conspicuous foolishness.

30* A placid heart is life in the flesh,

but passion is a rot in the bones.

31 One who denies a poor man his rights is insulting him who made him;

but he who is honoring him shows favor to a needy one.

32 A rogue is knocked over by his viciousness,

but an honest man finds refuge in his conscientious life.

33* In a sensible man’s heart wisdom rests,

but in fools’ bosoms it is known.

34* Right-doing uplifts a nation,

but sin is a disgrace to any folk.

35 A capable official will have a king’s approval,

but a worthless one will be his rage.