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14 The wisest of women[a] builds her house,
    but the foolish tears it down with her hands.
He who walks in uprightness fears Yahweh,
    but he who is devious in his ways displeases him.
In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride,
    but the lips of the wise preserve them.
When there are no[b] oxen the manger is empty,
    but an abundance of crops comes by the strength of an ox.[c]
A faithful witness does not lie,
    but he who breathes out falsehood is a witness of deceit.
A scoffer seeks wisdom, but there is none,
    but knowledge comes easily to him who understands.[d]
Leave the presence of a foolish man,[e]
    for you will not come to know words of knowledge.[f]
The wisdom of the clever is understanding his ways,
    but the folly of fools is deceit.
Fools mock[g] the guilt offering,
    but among the upright, it is favorable.
10 The heart[h] knows the bitterness of its soul,[i]
    but in its joy, it will not share itself with a stranger.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that seems upright to[j] a man,
    but its end is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter, a heart may be sad,
    and the end of joy may be grief.
14 From his ways, the perverse of heart will be satisfied,
    and from his own,[k] so shall a good man.
15 The simple will believe every word,
    but the clever will consider his step.
16 The wise is cautious and turns from evil,
    but the fool throws off restraint and is confident.
17 He who is short of temper[l] will act foolishly,
    and the man who schemes will be hated.
18 The simple are adorned with folly,
    but the clever are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good,
    and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
    but the lovers of the rich are many.
21 He who despises his neighbor is a sinner,
    but he who has mercy on the poor blesses him.
22 Have they not erred, those who plan evil?
    But loyalty and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
23 In all toil, there is profit,
    but the talk[m] of lips leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth;
    the folly of fools is folly.
25 He who saves lives[n] is a witness of truth,
    but he who utters lies is a betrayer.
26 In the fear of Yahweh, there is confidence of strength,
    and for his children, there will be refuge.
27 The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life,
    in order to turn from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the glory of the king,
    but without a population, a prince is ruined.
29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
    but the hasty of spirit[o] exalts folly.
30 A heart[p] of tranquility[q] is life to the flesh,
    but causes bones of passion to rot.
31 He who oppresses the poor insults him who made him,
    but he who has mercy on the poor honors him.
32 By his evildoing, the wicked will be overthrown,
    and the righteous will find refuge in his death.
33 In the heart[r] of him who has understanding, wisdom rests,
    but even in the midst of fools it becomes known.
34 Righteousness will exalt a nation,
    but sin is a reproach to a people.
35 The favor of a king is for the servant who deals wisely,
    but his wrath will be on him who acts shamefully.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:1 Literally “wise ones of women”
  2. Proverbs 14:4 Literally “In there is no”
  3. Proverbs 14:4 Hebrew “bull”
  4. Proverbs 14:6 Literally “to one who understands it comes easy”
  5. Proverbs 14:7 Literally “from the presence belonging to a man of foolishness”
  6. Proverbs 14:7 Literally “lips of knowledge”
  7. Proverbs 14:9 Hebrew “he mocks”
  8. Proverbs 14:10 Or “mind”
  9. Proverbs 14:10 Or “life,” or “inner self”
  10. Proverbs 14:12 Literally “to the face of”
  11. Proverbs 14:14 Literally “from upon him”
  12. Proverbs 14:17 Literally “nostril”
  13. Proverbs 14:23 Literally “word, matter, thing”
  14. Proverbs 14:25 Or “souls,” or “inner selves”
  15. Proverbs 14:29 Or “breath”
  16. Proverbs 14:30 Or “mind”
  17. Proverbs 14:30 Or “he who heals”
  18. Proverbs 14:33 Or “mind”

14 The wise woman builds her house,(A)
    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
    but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,(B)
    but the lips of the wise protect them.(C)

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
    but from the strength of an ox(D) come abundant harvests.

An honest witness does not deceive,
    but a false witness pours out lies.(E)

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.(F)

Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,(G)
    but the folly of fools is deception.(H)

Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,(I)
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.(J)

12 There is a way that appears to be right,(K)
    but in the end it leads to death.(L)

13 Even in laughter(M) the heart may ache,
    and rejoicing may end in grief.

14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,(N)
    and the good rewarded for theirs.(O)

15 The simple believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps.(P)

16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,(Q)
    but a fool(R) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

17 A quick-tempered person(S) does foolish things,(T)
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.(U)

18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
    and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.(V)

20 The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
    but the rich have many friends.(W)

21 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,(X)
    but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.(Y)

22 Do not those who plot evil go astray?(Z)
    But those who plan what is good find[a] love and faithfulness.

23 All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

24 The wealth of the wise is their crown,
    but the folly of fools yields folly.(AA)

25 A truthful witness saves lives,
    but a false witness is deceitful.(AB)

26 Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,(AC)
    and for their children it will be a refuge.(AD)

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,(AE)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(AF)

28 A large population is a king’s glory,
    but without subjects a prince is ruined.(AG)

29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,(AH)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.(AI)

30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.(AJ)

31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,(AK)
    but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.(AL)

32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,(AM)
    but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.(AN)

33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning(AO)
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.[b]

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,(AP)
    but sin condemns any people.

35 A king delights in a wise servant,
    but a shameful servant arouses his fury.(AQ)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:22 Or show
  2. Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known

14 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

18 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.

20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

26 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, to depart from the snares of death.

28 In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

35 The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.