Read the Bible

¹ A wise woman makes her home what it should be, but the home of a foolish woman is destroyed by her own actions.^[a]

² Those who live right respect the Lord, but dishonest people hate him.

³ Foolish words cause you trouble; wise words protect you.

⁴ A barn with no cattle might be clean, but strong bulls are needed for a good harvest.

⁵ A good witness is one who does not lie. A bad witness is a liar who cannot be trusted.

⁶ Anyone who makes fun of wisdom will never find it, but knowledge comes easily to those who understand its value.

⁷ Stay away from fools, there is nothing they can teach you.

⁸ Wisdom lets smart people know what they are doing, but stupid people only think they know.

⁹ Fines are needed to make fools obey the law, but good people are happy to obey it.

¹⁰ When you are sad, no one else feels the pain; and when you are happy, no one else can really feel the joy.

¹¹ An evil person's house will be destroyed, but a good person's family will do well.

¹² There is a way that people think is right, but it leads only to death.

¹³ Laughter might hide your sadness. But when the laughter is gone, the sadness remains.

¹⁴ Evil people will be paid back for the wrong they do, and good people will be rewarded for the good they do.

¹⁵ Fools believe every word they hear, but wise people think carefully about everything.

¹⁶ Wise people are careful and avoid trouble; fools are too confident and careless.

¹⁷ A quick-tempered person does stupid things, but it is also true that people don't like anyone who quietly plans evil.

¹⁸ Fools are rewarded with more foolishness. Smart people are rewarded with knowledge.

¹⁹ Good people will defeat those who are evil, and the wicked will be forced to show respect to those who live right.

²⁰ The poor have no friends, not even their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.

²¹ It is wrong to say bad things about your neighbors. Be kind to the poor, and you will be blessed.

²² Whoever works to do good will find love and loyalty. It is a mistake to work at doing evil.

²³ If you work hard, you will have plenty. If you do nothing but talk, you will not have enough.

²⁴ A wise person's reward is wealth, but a fool's reward is foolishness.

²⁵ A witness who tells the truth saves lives, but one who tells lies hurts others.

²⁶ People who respect the Lord will be safe, and they will make their children feel secure.

²⁷ Respect for the Lord gives true life and will save you from death's trap.

²⁸ Kings of large nations have great honor. Rulers without a country have nothing.

²⁹ A patient person is very smart. A quick-tempered person makes stupid mistakes.

³⁰ Peace of mind makes the body healthy, but jealousy is like a cancer.

³¹ Whoever takes advantage of the poor insults their Maker, but whoever is kind to them honors him.

³² The wicked will be defeated by their evil, but good people are protected by their honesty.^[b]

³³ A wise person is always thinking wise thoughts, but a fool knows nothing about wisdom.

³⁴ Goodness makes a nation great, but sin is a shame to any people.

³⁵ Kings are pleased with intelligent officials, but they will punish shameful ones.