1 A wise woman builds up her house {bayit: family stronghold}, but a foolish woman pulls it down with her hands {yad: agency of action}.
2 Whoever walks in uprightness {yashar: moral integrity} fears the LORD {YHWH, Revered Sovereign}, but whoever is crooked in his ways despises Him.
3 From the mouth of a fool comes a rod of pride {ga'avah: self-exaltation}, but the lips of the wise {chachamim: discerning ones} keep them safe.
4 When there are no oxen, the manger {evus: feeding trough} stays clean, but abundant harvests {tevuot: agricultural yield} come through the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness {emunim: steadfast integrity} does not lie, but a false witness {ed shaker: malicious accuser} pours out lies.
6 A scoffer searches for wisdom and does not find it, but to the discerning {navon: perceptive thinker} knowledge is easy {naqal: swiftly attained}.
7 Leave the presence of a foolish {kesil: morally simple} man when you see there are no lips of knowledge {da’at: discerning insight} in him.
8 The wisdom of the prudent {arum: shrewd and discerning} is that he understands his way, but the folly of fools {kesilim: lacking sound judgment} is deceit.
9 Fools deride a guilt offering {asham: guilt offering}, but among the upright there is favor {ratson: goodwill acceptance}.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness {marat: inner sorrow}, and a stranger {zar: social outsider} does not share in its joy.
11 The house of the wicked {resha‘im: evildoers} will be brought down, but the tent of the upright will flourish {yaphriach: sprout abundantly}.
12 A way may look right before a man, but its end{acharitah: final outcome} is the road to death{mavet: separation from life}.
13 Even in laughter {bischok: fleeting mirth}, the heart may ache, and the end of joy {simchah: passing delight} is sorrow.
14 The backslider {sug: one who turns aside} in heart will be filled from his own ways {midrakhav: personal course}, and a good man will be satisfied from himself.
15 The simple person {peti: inexperienced listener} trusts every word, but the prudent person discerns his steps {ashur: course of action}.
16 A wise person fears {yare: reverent caution} and turns away from evil, but the fool boils over {mitabber: swells with anger} and is confident.
17 One who is quick to anger acts with folly {ivvelet: foolishness}, and a man of schemes {mezimot: crafty plans} is hated.
18 The simple {peta’yim: naive ones} inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge {da’at: discernment and understanding}.
19 The wicked bow down {shachu: humble submission} before the good, and evildoers bow at the entrance of the upright {tsaddiq: just individual}.
20 Even his own neighbor {re’ehu: fellow citizen} hates the poor man, but the friends of the rich man are many {rabbim: numerous}.
21 Whoever despises his neighbor sins, but he who shows kindness {mechonen: bestows gracious favor} to the lowly is blessed {ashrei: spiritually fulfilled}.
22 Do not those who plot {choreshei: active planners} evil go astray? But kindness {chesed: steadfast love} and truth will be to those who plan what is good.
23 In all labor there is profit, but the speech {devar: spoken words} of the lips leads only to want {machsor: lack}.
24 Riches serve as the crown {ateret: visible honor} of the wise, while foolishness in fools reveals folly {ivvelet: senseless error}.
25 A witness {ed: impartial testifier} of truth preserves lives, yet one who utters lies practices deceit {mirmah: deliberate deception}.
26 In the fear of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Protector} there is strong confidence {mivtakh-oz: unwavering security}, and to his children it will be a refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD {YHWH, Wisdom Giver} is a fountain {meqor: sustaining source} of life, to turn aside from the snares of death.
28 With many people is a king’s majesty, but with no people comes the ruin {mechittat: downfall, disaster} of a ruler {razon: prince, one who governs}.
29 One who is slow to anger {erekh appayim: patient restraint} has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered {u-ketsar-ruach: sudden irascibility} lifts up folly.
30 A healing heart {lev: seat of emotion} is the life of the flesh, but envy {kinah: jealousy} is decay to the bones.
31 One who oppresses the poor reviles his Maker, but he who honors Him {YHWH, Righteous Maker} shows grace to the needy {evyon: one in urgent need}.
32 The wicked is cast aside in his own wickedness {ra'ato: personal wrongdoing}, but in his death the righteous has refuge {choseh: secure shelter}.
33 In the heart of the discerning {navon: one possessing discernment}, wisdom {chokhmah: skillful wisdom} rests; but in the midst of fools, it is made known.
34 Righteousness {tsedaqah: Covenant Faithfulness} exalts a nation, but sin {chatat: culpable wrongdoing} brings reproach on any people.
35 The favor of a king rests on a discerning servant {maskil: acts with insight}, but his wrath will be on one who causes shame {mevish: causes shame}.