The Ways of Life and Death

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1 The wise woman builds her house,

​​But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

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2 ​​He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD,

​​But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.

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3 ​​In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,

​​But the lips of the wise will preserve them.

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4 ​​Where no oxen are, the trough is clean;

​​But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.

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5 ​​A faithful witness does not lie,

​​But a false witness will utter lies.

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6 ​​A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it,

​​But knowledge is easy to him who understands.

7 ​​Go from the presence of a foolish man,

​​When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

8 ​​The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,

​​But the folly of fools is deceit.

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9 ​​Fools mock at sin,

​​But among the upright there is favor.

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10 ​​The heart knows its own bitterness,

​​And a stranger does not share its joy.

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11 ​​The house of the wicked will be overthrown,

​​But the tent of the upright will flourish.

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12 ​​There is a way that seems right to a man,

​​But its end is the way of death.

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13 ​​Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,

​​And the end of mirth may be grief.

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14 ​​The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,

​​But a good man will be satisfied from above.[fn]

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15 ​​The simple believes every word,

​​But the prudent considers well his steps.

16 ​​A wise man fears and departs from evil,

​​But a fool rages and is self-confident.

17 ​​A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,

​​And a man of wicked intentions is hated.

18 ​​The simple inherit folly,

​​But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 ​​The evil will bow before the good,

​​And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

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20 ​​The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor,

​​But the rich has many friends.

21 ​​He who despises his neighbor sins;

​​But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

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22 ​​Do they not go astray who devise evil?

​​But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.

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23 ​​In all labor there is profit,

​​But idle chatter[fn] leads only to poverty.

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24 ​​The crown of the wise is their riches,

​​But the foolishness of fools is folly.

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25 ​​A true witness delivers souls,

​​But a deceitful witness speaks lies.

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26 ​​In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,

​​And His children will have a place of refuge.

27 ​​The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,

​​To turn one away from the snares of death.

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28 ​​In a multitude of people is a king’s honor,

​​But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.

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29 ​​He who is slow to wrath has great understanding,

​​But he who is impulsive[fn] exalts folly.

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30 ​​A sound heart is life to the body,

​​But envy is rottenness to the bones.

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31 ​​He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,

​​But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

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32 ​​The wicked is banished in his wickedness,

​​But the righteous has a refuge in his death.

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33 ​​Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,

​​But what is in the heart of fools is made known.

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34 ​​Righteousness exalts a nation,

​​But sin is a reproach to any people.

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35 ​​The king’s favor is toward a wise servant,

​​But his wrath is against him who causes shame.

For deeper study: David Guzik Commentary