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14 Every wise woman builds her house,
    but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
He who walks in his uprightness fears Yahweh,
    but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back,
    but the lips of the wise protect them.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean,
    but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
A truthful witness will not lie,
    but a false witness pours out lies.
A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it,
    but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
Stay away from a foolish man,
    for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.
The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way,
    but the folly of fools is deceit.
Fools mock at making atonement for sins,
    but among the upright there is good will.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness and joy;
    he will not share these with a stranger.
11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way which seems right to a man,
    but in the end it leads to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful,
    and mirth may end in heaviness.
14 The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways;
    likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
15 A simple man believes everything,
    but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
16 A wise man fears and shuns evil,
    but the fool is hot headed and reckless.
17 He who is quick to become angry will commit folly,
    and a crafty man is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good,
    and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor,
    but the rich person has many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins,
    but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.
22 Don’t they go astray who plot evil?
    But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
23 In all hard work there is profit,
    but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
    but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.
25 A truthful witness saves souls,
    but a false witness is deceitful.
26 In the fear of Yahweh is a secure fortress,
    and he will be a refuge for his children.
27 The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life,
    turning people from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the king’s glory,
    but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
30 The life of the body is a heart at peace,
    but envy rots the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker,
    but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
32 The wicked is brought down in his calamity,
    but in death, the righteous has a refuge.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
    and is even made known in the inward part of fools.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
    but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely,
    but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.

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