Proverbs 14
14
1Wisdom#14.1 Heb Wisdom of women builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down.
2He who walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
but he who is devious in his ways despises him.
3The talk of a fool is a rod for his back,#14.3 Cn: Heb a rod of pride
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4Where there are no oxen, there is no#14.4 Cn: Heb a manger of grain;
but 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 a man of understanding.
7Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
8The wisdom of a prudent man is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools is deceiving.
9God scorns the wicked,#14.9 Cn: Heb obscure
but the upright enjoy his favor.
10The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.
11The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12There is a way which seems right to a man,
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.
14A perverse man will be filled with the fruit of his ways,
and a good man with the fruit of his deeds.#14.14 Cn: Heb from upon him
15The simple believes everything,
but the prudent looks where he is going.
16A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil,
but a fool throws off restraint and is careless.
17A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
but a man of discretion is patient.#14.17 Gk: Heb is hated
18The simple acquire folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
but the rich has many friends.
21He who despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but happy is he who is kind to the poor.
22Do they not err that devise evil?
Those who devise good meet loyalty and faithfulness.
23In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to want.
24The crown of the wise is their wisdom,#14.24 Cn Compare Gk: Heb riches
but folly is the garland#14.24 Cn: Heb 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 his children will have a refuge.
27The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
that one may avoid the snares of death.
28In a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
but without people a prince is ruined.
29He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh,
but passion makes the bones rot.
31He who oppresses a poor man insults his Maker,
but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
32The wicked is overthrown through his evil-doing,
but the righteous finds refuge through his integrity.#14.32 Gk Syr: Heb in his death
33Wisdom abides in the mind of a man of 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: RSV
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Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America