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 hot headed 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 he who has pity on the poor is blessed.

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.

1 Die wysheid van die vroue bou die huis, maar die sotheid breek dit met eie hande af.

2 Wie in sy opregtheid wandel, vrees die HERE; maar hy wat verkeerd is in sy weë, verag Hom.

3 In die mond van die sot is 'n roede vir sy trots, maar die lippe van die wyse bewaar hulle.

4 Waar geen beeste is nie, is die krip leeg, maar deur die krag van die os is die inkomste baie.

5 'n Betroubare getuie lieg nie, maar 'n valse getuie strooi leuens uit.

6 Die spotter soek wysheid, en dit is nie daar nie; maar vir die verstandige is kennis maklik.

7 Gaan weg voor 'n dwase man, want jy het daar niks gemerk van die lippe van kennis nie.

8 Die wysheid van die skrandere is om sy weg te verstaan, maar die sotheid van die dwase is bedrog.

9 Die skuldoffer spot met die dwase, maar tussen die opregtes is daar welwillendheid.

10 Die hart ken sy eie verdriet, en in sy blydskap kan 'n ander hom nie meng nie.

11 Die huis van die goddelose word verdelg, maar die tent van die opregtes bloei.

12 Daar is 'n weg wat vir 'n mens reg lyk, maar die einde daarvan is weë van die dood.

13 Ook onder gelag kan die hart pyn ly, en die einde van so 'n blydskap is bekommernis.

14 Uit sy eie wandel word die verkeerde van hart versadig, maar die goeie man uit syne.

15 Die eenvoudige glo elke woord, maar die skrandere let op sy voetstappe.

16 Die wyse vrees en wyk af van die kwaad, maar die dwaas bruis op en is vol selfvertroue.

17 Wie kortgebonde is, begaan sotheid; en 'n slinkse man word gehaat.

18 Die eenvoudiges verkry sotheid as 'n erfenis, maar die skranderes word met kennis gekroon.

19 Die slegtes moet buig voor die goeies, en die goddelose by die poorte van die regverdige.

20 Die arme word selfs deur sy naaste gehaat, maar die vriende van die ryke is talryk.

21 Wie sy naaste verag, doen sonde; maar hy wat medelyde het met die ellendiges, hy is gelukkig.

22 Verdwaal hulle nie wat onheil bewerk nie? Maar liefde en trou is vir die wat die goeie bewerk.

23 In enige moeitevolle arbeid is voordeel, maar praatjies is net tot gebrek.

24 Die kroon van die wyse is hulle rykdom, die sotheid van die dwase bly sotheid.

25 'n Betroubare getuie red lewens, maar hy wat leuens uitstrooi, is bedrog.

26 In die vrees van die HERE lê 'n sterk sekerheid, ook vir die kinders van 'n sodanige sal daar 'n toevlug wees.

27 Die vrees van die HERE is 'n fontein van die lewe, om van die strikke van die dood af te wyk.

28 In die menigte van die volk lê die heerlikheid van die koning, maar in die gebrek aan mense die ondergang van die vors.

29 Die lankmoedige is groot van verstand, maar die kortgebondene behaal sotheid.

30 'n Rustige hart is die lewe vir die vlees, maar hartstog 'n verrotting vir die gebeente.

31 Wie die geringe verdruk, versmaad sy Maker, maar hy wat hom oor die behoeftige ontferm, eer Hom.

32 In sy ongeluk word die goddelose omgestoot, maar die regverdige vind 'n toevlug by sy dood.

33 Wysheid rus in die hart van die verstandige, word selfs rugbaar te midde van die dwase.

34 Geregtigheid verhoog 'n volk, maar die sonde is 'n skandvlek vir die nasies.

35 Die welbehae van die koning is vir 'n verstandige dienaar, maar een wat skande maak, is 'n voorwerp van sy grimmigheid.