14¹ 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 hotheaded 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 blessed is he who has pity on the poor.

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.

Exhortations to Obedience

3¹ My son, don’t forget my teaching;
but let your heart keep my commandments: ² for length of days, and years of life,
and peace, will they add to you. ³ Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you.
Bind them around your neck.
Write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴ So you will find favor,
and good understanding in the sight of God and man. ⁵ Trust in Yahweh with all your heart,
and don’t lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

⁷ Don’t be wise in your own eyes.
Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil. ⁸ It will be health to your body,
and nourishment to your bones. ⁹ Honor Yahweh with your substance,
with the first fruits of all your increase: ¹⁰ so your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will overflow with new wine. ¹¹ My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline,
neither be weary of his reproof: ¹² for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves;
even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

¹³ Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gets understanding. ¹⁴ For her good profit is better than getting silver,
and her return is better than fine gold. ¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies.
None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her. ¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand.
In her left hand are riches and honor. ¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness.
All her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her.
Happy is everyone who retains her. ¹⁹ By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth.
By understanding, he established the heavens. ²⁰ By his knowledge, the depths were broken up,
and the skies drop down the dew.

²¹ My son, let them not depart from your eyes.
Keep sound wisdom and discretion: ²² so they will be life to your soul,
and grace for your neck. ²³ Then you shall walk in your way securely.
Your foot won’t stumble. ²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid.
Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet. ²⁵ Don’t be afraid of sudden fear,
neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes: ²⁶ for Yahweh will be your confidence,
and will keep your foot from being taken.

²⁷ Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in the power of your hand to do it. ²⁸ Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again;
tomorrow I will give it to you,”
when you have it by you. ²⁹ Don’t devise evil against your neighbor,
seeing he dwells securely by you. ³⁰ Don’t strive with a man without cause,
if he has done you no harm. ³¹ Don’t envy the man of violence.
Choose none of his ways. ³² For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh,
but his friendship is with the upright. ³³ Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the habitation of the righteous. ³⁴ Surely he mocks the mockers,
but he gives grace to the humble. ³⁵ The wise will inherit glory,
but shame will be the promotion of fools.