Proverbs 14
1 Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
Wisdom is building her house, but the foolish woman is pulling it down with her hands.
2 He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.
He who goes on his way in righteousness has before him the fear of the Lord; but he whose ways are twisted gives him no honour.
3 The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
In the mouth of the foolish man is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will keep them safe.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.
Where there are no oxen, their food-place is clean; but much increase comes through the strength of the ox.
5 An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.
A true witness does not say what is false, but a false witness is breathing out deceit.
6 A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
The hater of authority, searching for wisdom, does not get it; but knowledge comes readily to the open-minded man.
7 Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.
Go away from the foolish man, for you will not see the lips of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
The wisdom of the man of good sense makes his way clear; but the unwise behaviour of the foolish is deceit.
9 Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright.
In the tents of those hating authority there is error, but in the house of the upright man there is grace.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares in its joy.
No one has knowledge of a man's grief but himself; and a strange person has no part in his joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
The house of the sinner will be overturned, but the tent of the upright man will do well.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow.
Even while laughing the heart may be sad; and after joy comes sorrow.
14 The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways.
He whose heart is turned away will have the reward of his ways in full measure; but a good man will have the reward of his doings.
15 The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.
The simple man has faith in every word, but the man of good sense gives thought to his footsteps.
16 A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
The wise man, fearing, keeps himself from evil; but the foolish man goes on in his pride, with no thought of danger.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man is hated.
He who is quickly angry will do what is foolish, but the man of good sense will have quiet.
18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
Foolish behaviour is the heritage of the simple, but men of good sense are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
The knees of the evil are bent before the good; and sinners go down in the dust at the doors of the upright.
20 The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich.
The poor man is hated even by his neighbour, but the man of wealth has numbers of friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
He who has no respect for his neighbour is a sinner, but he who has pity for the poor is happy.
22 Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness.
Will not the designers of evil come into error? But mercy and good faith are for the designers of good.
23 There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
In all hard work there is profit, but talk only makes a man poor.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly.
Their wisdom is a crown to the wise, but their foolish behaviour is round the head of the unwise.
25 A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful.
A true witness is the saviour of lives; but he who says false things is a cause of deceit.
26 He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.
For him in whose heart is the fear of the Lord there is strong hope: and his children will have a safe place.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, by which one may be turned from the nets of death.
28 A large population is a king’s splendor, but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.
A king's glory is in the number of his people: and for need of people a ruler may come to destruction.
29 A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
He who is slow to be angry has great good sense; but he whose spirit is over-quick gives support to what is foolish.
30 A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
A quiet mind is the life of the body, but envy is a disease in the bones.
31 Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
He who is hard on the poor puts shame on his Maker; but he who has mercy on those who are in need gives him honour.
32 The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.
The sinner is overturned in his evil-doing, but the upright man has hope in his righteousness.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; even among fools she is known.
Wisdom has her resting-place in the mind of the wise, but she is not seen among the foolish.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
By righteousness a nation is lifted up, but sin is a cause of shame to the peoples.
35 A king delights in a wise servant, but his anger falls on the shameful.
The king has pleasure in a servant who does wisely, but his wrath is against him who is a cause of shame.
