- Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs hers down
with her hands.
- He that walks uprightly fears the Lord; but he that is perverse in
his ways shall be dishonoured.
- Out of the mouth of fools comes a rod of pride; but the
lips of the wise preserve them.
- Where no oxen are, the cribs are clean; but where there is
abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.
- A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles
falsehoods.
- Thou shalt seek wisdom with bad men, and shalt not find it; but
discretion is easily available with the prudent.
- All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the
weapons of discretion.
- The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the
folly of fools leads astray.
- The houses of transgressors [a] will
need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
- If a man's [b] mind is
intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no
fellowship with pride.
- The houses of ungodly men shall be utterly destroyed; but the
tabernacles of them that walk uprightly shall stand.
- There is a way which seems to be right with men, but the ends of
it [c] reach to the depth of hell.
- Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
- A [d] stout-hearted man shall
be filled with his own ways; and a good man with his own thoughts.
- The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes
himself to after-thought.
- A wise man fears, and departs from evil; but the fool trusts in
himself, and joins himself with the transgressor.
- A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up
under many things.
- Fools shall have mischief for their portion; but the prudent shall
take fast hold of understanding.
- Evil men shall fall before the good; and the ungodly shall attend
at the gates of the righteous.
- Friends will hate poor friends; but the friends of the rich are
many.
- He that dishonours the needy sins: but he that has pity on the
poor is most blessed.
- They that go astray devise evils: but the good devise mercy and
truth. The framers of evil do not understand mercy and truth: but
compassion and faithfulness are with the framers of good.
- With every one who is careful there is abundance: but the
pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in want.
- A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of
fools is evil.
- A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful
man kindles falsehoods.
- In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his
children a support.
- The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes
men to turn aside from the snare of death.
- In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of
people is the ruin of a prince.
- A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient
spirit is very foolish.
- A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive
heart is a corruption of the bones.
- He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that
honours him has pity upon the poor.
- The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but [e] he who is secure in his own holiness is just.
- There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of
fools it is not discerned.
- Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
- An understaning servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good
behaviour he removes disgrace.
[a] Gr. shall owe. See Job 6.21.
[b] Or, heart be sensitive.
[c] Gr. come.
[d] Lit. bold-hearted.
[e] Comp. Heb.
[English translation of the Septuagint by Sir Lancelot Charles Lee
Brenton (1807-1862) originally published by Samuel Bagster & Sons,
Ltd., London, 1851]