1  ^eThe wisest of women ^fbuilds her house,

but folly with her own hands ^gtears it down.

2  Whoever ^hwalks in uprightness fears the Lord,

but he who is ⁱdevious in his ways despises him.

3  By the mouth of a fool comes ^ja rod for his back,¹

^kbut the lips of the wise will preserve them.

4  Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,

but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

5  ^lA faithful witness does not lie,

but ^ma false witness breathes out lies.

6  ⁿA scoffer seeks wisdom ^oin vain,

but ^pknowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

7  Leave the presence of a fool,

for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

8  The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,

but the folly of fools is deceiving.

9  ^qFools mock at the guilt offering,

but the upright enjoy acceptance.²

10  The heart knows its own ^rbitterness,

and no stranger shares its joy.

11  ^sThe house of the wicked will be destroyed,

but the tent of the upright will flourish.

12  ^tThere is a way that seems right to a man,

but ^uits end is the way to death.³

13  Even in laughter the heart may ache,

and ^vthe end of joy may be ^wgrief.

14  The backslider in heart will be ^xfilled with the fruit of his ways,

and ^ya good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.

15  ^zThe simple believes everything,

but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

16  ^aOne who is wise is cautious⁴ and ^bturns away from evil,

but a fool is reckless and careless.

17  A man of ^cquick temper acts foolishly,

and a man of evil devices is hated.

18  The simple inherit folly,

but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.