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