Proverbs 14
1 Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
The wise among women buildeth her house; but the foolish pulleth it down with her own hands.
2 He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.
In his uprightness walketh he that feareth the Lord; but perverse in his ways is he that despiseth 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 stick [for his] pride; but the lips of the wise will 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, is the crib clean; but the abundance of harvests is [only] through 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 constantly uttereth lies.
6 A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none; but knowledge is easy to the man of understanding.
7 Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.
Go far away from a foolish man, else thou wilt [never] know 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.
The fool maketh a mockery of guilt; but among the upright there is good will.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares in its joy.
The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and with its joy can no stranger intermeddle.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed: but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
There is many a way which seemeth even before a man; but its end are ways unto death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow.
Even in laughter the heart feeleth pain; and at its end joy is sorrow.
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 will have enough of his own ways; and from him [departeth] the good men.
15 The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.
The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man understandeth his steps.
16 A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
A wise man is fearful, and departeth from evil; but the fool exciteth himself, and is confident.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man is hated.
He that is soon angry committeth folly; 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 crown themselves with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
The bad sink down before the good; and the wicked are at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich.
Even to his own neighbor is the poor man hateful; but the friends of the rich are many.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
He that despiseth his neighbor is a sinner; but he that is gracious to the poor—happiness attend him!
22 Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness.
Behold, those who contrive evil are in error; but kindness and truth attend on those who contrive what is good.
23 There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
In all painful labor there is profit; but mere words of the lips [lead] only to want.
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 folly of fools is [only] folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful.
A deliverer of souls is the true witness; but a witness of deceit uttereth 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 the strong confidence [of man], and unto his children will it be a place of shelter.
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 the source of life, [teaching] to avoid 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 glory; but in the want of a population is the downfall of the prince.
29 A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit holdeth up [to view] his folly.
30 A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
A sound heart is the life of the body; but jealousy is the rottenness of the bones.
31 Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
He that oppresseth the poor blasphemeth his Maker; but he that is gracious to the needy honoreth him.
32 The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.
Through his own evil is the wicked thrust down; but even in his death doth the righteous have confidence.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; even among fools she is known.
In the heart of the man of understanding resteth wisdom: but [the little which is] in the bosom of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
Righteousness exalteth a people; but the disgrace of nations is sin.
35 A king delights in a wise servant, but his anger falls on the shameful.
The king's favor is bestowed on an intelligent servant; but his wrath is against him that deserveth shame.
