Proverbs 14
14
1The wise woman#14.1 Heb Wisdom of women builds her house,
but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
2Those who walk uprightly fear the Lord,
but one who is devious in conduct despises him.
3The talk of fools is a rod for their backs,#14.3 Cn: Heb a rod of pride
but the lips of the wise preserve them.
4Where there are no oxen, there is no grain;
abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5A faithful witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes out lies.
6A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge is easy for one who understands.
7Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not find words of knowledge.
8It is the wisdom of the clever to understand where they go,
but the folly of fools misleads.
9Fools mock at the guilt offering,#14.9 Meaning of Heb uncertain
but the upright enjoy God's favor.
10The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.
11The house of the wicked is destroyed,
but the tent of the upright flourishes.
12There is a way that seems right to a person,
but its end is the way to death.#14.12 Heb ways of death
13Even in laughter the heart is sad,
and the end of joy is grief.
14The perverse get what their ways deserve,
and the good, what their deeds deserve.#14.14 Cn: Heb from upon him
15The simple believe everything,
but the clever consider their steps.
16The wise are cautious and turn away from evil,
but the fool throws off restraint and is careless.
17One who is quick-tempered acts foolishly,
and the schemer is hated.
18The simple are adorned with#14.18 Or inherit folly,
but the clever are crowned with knowledge.
19The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20The poor are disliked even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends.
21Those who despise their neighbors are sinners,
but happy are those who are kind to the poor.
22Do they not err that plan evil?
Those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.
23In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24The crown of the wise is their wisdom,#14.24 Cn Compare Gk: Heb riches
but folly is the garland#14.24 Cn: Heb is the folly of fools.
25A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who utters lies is a betrayer.
26In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,
and one's children will have a refuge.
27The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
so that one may avoid the snares of death.
28The glory of a king is a multitude of people;
without people a prince is ruined.
29Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh,
but passion makes the bones rot.
31Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker,
but those who are kind to the needy honor him.
32The wicked are overthrown by their evildoing,
but the righteous find a refuge in their integrity.#14.32 Gk Syr: Heb in their death
33Wisdom is at home in the mind of one who has understanding,
but it is not#14.33 Gk Syr: Heb lacks not known in the heart of fools.
34Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
35A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
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Proverbs 14: NRSV
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New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.