Proverbs 14
1 Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
Every wise woman builds her house: but the foolish plucks 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 that walks in his uprightness fears the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despises him.
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 is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
6 A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
A scorner seeks wisdom, and finds it not: but knowledge is easy to him that understands.
7 Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.
Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you perceive not in him 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 prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright.
Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares in its joy.
The heart knows his own bitterness; and a stranger does not intermeddle with his joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
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 right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow.
Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
14 The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways.
The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
15 The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.
The simple believes every word: but the prudent man looks well to his going.
16 A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
A wise man fears, and departs from evil: but the fool rages, and is confident.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man is hated.
He that is soon angry deals foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich.
The poor is hated even of his own neighbor: but the rich has many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
He that despises his neighbor sins: but he that has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
22 Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness.
Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
23 There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tends only to penury.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly.
The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful.
A true witness delivers souls: but a deceitful witness speaks lies.
26 He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.
In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
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, to depart from the snares of death.
28 A large population is a king’s splendor, but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.
In the multitude of people is the king’s honor: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalts folly.
30 A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
31 Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
He that oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker: but he that honors him has mercy on the poor.
32 The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.
The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous has hope in his death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; even among fools she is known.
Wisdom rests in the heart of him that has understanding: but that which is in the middle of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 A king delights in a wise servant, but his anger falls on the shameful.
The king’s favor is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causes shame.
