Proverbs 14
1 Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs [hers] down with her hands.
Every wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.
2 He that walks uprightly fears the Lord; but he that is perverse in his ways shall be dishonoured.
He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah; But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
3 Out of the mouth of fools [comes] a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise preserve them.
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for [his] pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, the cribs are clean; but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.
A faithful witness will not lie; But a false witness uttereth lies.
6 Thou shalt seek wisdom with bad men, and shalt not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.
A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.
7 All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
Go into the presence of a foolish man, And thou shalt not perceive [in him] the lips of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
9 The houses of transgressors will need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
A trespass-offering mocketh fools; But among the upright there is good will.
10 [If] a man's mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no fellowship with pride.
The heart knoweth its own bitterness; And a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.
11 The houses of ungodly men shall be utterly destroyed; but the tabernacles of them that walk uprightly shall stand.
The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; But the tent of the upright shall flourish.
12 There is a way which seems to be right with men, but the ends of it reach to the depths of hell. (questioned)
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.
13 Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of mirth is heaviness.
14 A stout-hearted [man] shall be filled with his own ways; and a good man with his own thoughts.
The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.
15 The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes himself to after-thought.
The simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to his going.
16 A wise man fears, and departs from evil; but the fool trusts in himself, and joins himself with the transgressor.
A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
17 A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 Fools shall have mischief for their portion; but the prudent shall take fast hold of understanding.
The simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 Evil men shall fall before the good; and the ungodly shall attend at the gates of the righteous.
The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.
20 Friends will hate poor friends; but the friends of the rich are many.
The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends.
21 He that dishonours the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.
22 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.
Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth [shall be to] them that devise good.
23 With every one [who is] careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in want.
In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.
24 A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of fools is evil.
The crown of the wise is their riches; [But] the folly of fools is [only] folly.
25 A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful [man] kindles falsehoods.
A true witness delivereth souls; But he that uttereth lies [causeth] deceit.
26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence; And his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes [men] to turn aside from the snare of death.
The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.
28 In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince.
In the multitude of people is the king’s glory; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish.
He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
30 A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones.
A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh; But envy is the rottenness of the bones.
31 He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honours him has pity upon the poor.
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.
32 The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just.
The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing; But the righteous hath a refuge in his death.
33 There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned.
Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; But [that which is] in the inward part of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people.
35 An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behaviour he removes disgrace.
The king’s favor is toward a servant that dealeth wisely; But his wrath will be [against] him that causeth shame.
