Wisdom Makes Good Sense
1 A woman's family
is held together
by her wisdom,
but it can be destroyed
by her foolishness.
2 By living right, you show
that you respect the Lord;
by being deceitful, you show
that you despise him.
3 Proud fools are punished
for their stupid talk,
but sensible talk
can save your life.
4 Without the help of an ox
there can be no crop,
but with a strong ox
a big crop is possible.
5 An honest witness
tells the truth;
a dishonest witness
tells nothing but lies.
6 Make fun of wisdom,
and you will never find it.
But if you have understanding,
knowledge comes easily.
7 Stay away from fools,
or you won't learn a thing.
8 Wise people have enough sense
to find their way,
but stupid fools get lost.
9 Fools don't care
if they are wrong,
but God is pleased
when people do right.
10 No one else can really know
how sad or happy you are.
11 The tent of a good person
stands longer than the house
of someone evil.
12 You may think you are
on the right road
and still end up dead.
13 Sorrow may hide
behind laughter,
and happiness may end
in sorrow.
14 You harvest what you plant,
whether good or bad.
15 Don't be stupid
and believe all you hear;
be smart and know
where you are headed.
16 Only a stupid fool
is never cautious—
so be extra careful
and stay out of trouble.
17 Fools have quick tempers,
and no one likes you
if you can't be trusted.
18 Stupidity leads to foolishness;
be smart and learn.
19 The wicked will come crawling
to those who obey God.
20 You have no friends
if you are poor,
but you have lots of friends
if you are rich.
21 It's wrong to hate others,
but God blesses everyone
who is kind to the poor.
22 It's a mistake
to make evil plans,
but you will have loyal friends
if you want to do right.
23 Hard work is worthwhile,
but empty talk
will make you poor.
24 Wisdom can make you rich,
but foolishness leads
to more foolishness.
25 An honest witness
can save your life,
but liars can't be trusted.
26 If you respect the Lord,
you and your children
have a strong fortress
27 and a life-giving fountain
that keeps you safe
from deadly traps.
28 Rulers of powerful nations
are held in honor;
rulers of weak nations
are nothing at all.
29 It's smart to be patient,
but it's stupid
to lose your temper.
30 It's healthy to be content,
but envy can eat you up.
31 If you mistreat the poor,
you insult your Creator;
if you are kind to them,
you show him respect.
32 In times of trouble
the wicked are destroyed,
but even at death
the innocent have faith.
33 Wisdom is found in the minds
of people with good sense,
but fools don't know it.
34 Doing right brings honor
to a nation,
but sin brings disgrace.
35 Kings reward servants
who act wisely,
but they punish those
who act foolishly.
1 A wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish destroyeth it with her owne handes. 2 He that walketh in his righteousnes, feareth the Lord: but he that is lewde in his wayes, despiseth him. 3 In the mouth of the foolish is the rod of pride: but the lippes of the wise preserue them. 4 Where none oxen are, there the cribbe is emptie: but much increase cometh by the strength of the oxe. 5 A faithfull witnes will not lye: but a false record will speake lyes. 6 A scorner seeketh wisdome, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easie to him that will vnderstande. 7 Depart from the foolish man, when thou perceiuest not in him the lippes of knowledge. 8 The wisdome of ye prudent is to vnderstand his way: but the foolishnes of the fooles is deceite. 9 The foole maketh a mocke of sinne: but among the righteous there is fauour. 10 The heart knoweth the bitternes of his soule, and the stranger shall not medle with his ioy. 11 The house of the wicked shalbe destroyed: but the tabernacle of the righteous shall florish. 12 There is a way that seemeth right to a man: but the issues thereof are the wayes of death. 13 Euen in laughing the heart is sorowful, and the ende of that mirth is heauinesse. 14 The heart that declineth, shall be saciate with his owne wayes: but a good man shall depart from him. 15 The foolish will beleeue euery thing: but the prudent will consider his steppes. 16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from euill: but a foole rageth, and is carelesse. 17 He that is hastie to anger, committeth follie, and a busie body is hated. 18 The foolish do inherite follie: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19 The euill shall bowe before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. 20 The poore is hated euen of his own neighbour: but the friendes of the rich are many. 21 The sinner despiseth his neighbour: but he that hath mercie on the poore, is blessed. 22 Doe not they erre that imagine euill? but to them that thinke on good things, shalbe mercie and trueth. 23 In all labour there is abundance: but the talke of the lippes bringeth onely want. 24 The crowne of the wise is their riches, and the follie of fooles is foolishnes. 25 A faithfull witnes deliuereth soules: but a deceiuer speaketh lyes. 26 In the feare of the Lord is an assured strength, and his children shall haue hope. 27 The feare of the Lord is as a welspring of life, to auoyde the snares of death. 28 In the multitude of the people is the honour of a King, and for the want of people commeth the destruction of the Prince. 29 He that is slowe to wrath, is of great wisdome: but he that is of an hastie minde, exalteth follie. 30 A sounde heart is the life of the flesh: but enuie is the rotting of the bones. 31 He that oppresseth the poore, reprooueth him that made him: but hee honoureth him, that hath mercie on the poore. 32 The wicked shall be cast away for his malice: but the righteous hath hope in his death. 33 Wisedome resteth in the heart of him that hath vnderstanding, and is knowen in the mids of fooles. 34 Iustice exalteth a nation, but sinne is a shame to the people. 35 The pleasure of a King is in a wise seruant: but his wrath shalbe toward him that is lewde.