Proverbs 14

1A wise woman builds her house,

while a foolish woman tears hers down with her own hands.

2Those who walk with integrity fear the LORD,

but those who take a crooked path despise him.

3Pride sprouts in the mouth of a fool,#14.3 Heb uncertain

but the lips of the wise protect them.

4When there are no oxen, the stall is clean,

but when there is a strong bull, there is abundant produce.

5A truthful witness doesn’t lie,

but a false witness spews lies.

6A mocker searches for wisdom and gets none,

but knowledge comes quickly to the intelligent.

7Stay away from fools,

for you won’t learn wise speech there.

8By their wisdom the prudent understand their way,

but the stupidity of fools deceives them.

9Fools mock a compensation offering,

but favor is with those who do right.

10The heart knows its own distress;

another person can’t share its joy.

11The house of the wicked is destroyed,

but the tent flourishes for those who do right.

12There is a path that may seem straight to someone,

but in the end it is a path to death.

13The heart feels pain even in laughter,

and in the end, joy turns to sorrow.

14Rebellious hearts receive satisfaction from their ways;

the good receive the due reward for their deeds.

15The naive believe anything,

but the prudent give thought to their steps.

16The wise are careful and avoid evil,

but fools become excited and overconfident.

17Short-tempered people make stupid mistakes,

and schemers are hated.

18Stupidity is the lot of the naive,

but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19Evil people will bow down before the good;

wicked people are at the gates of the righteous.

20Even their neighbors hate the poor,

but many love the wealthy.

21Those who despise their neighbors are sinners,

but happy are those who are kind to the needy.

22Don’t those who plan evil go astray?

Those who plan good receive loyalty and faithfulness.

23There is profit in hard work,

but mere talk leads to poverty.

24Wealth is the crown of the wise,

and the folly of fools is folly.

25A truthful witness saves lives,

but a deceiver proclaims lies.

26In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence

and refuge for one’s children.

27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,

turning people away from deathtraps.

28A king’s glory is a large population,

but a dwindling people is a ruler’s ruin.

29Patience leads to abundant understanding,

but impatience leads to stupid mistakes.

30A peaceful mind gives life to the body,

but jealousy rots the bones.

31Those who exploit the powerless anger their maker,

while those who are kind to the poor honor God.

32The wicked are thrown down by their own evil,

but the righteous find refuge even in death.

33Wisdom resides in an understanding heart,

but it’s not#14.33 LXX; MT lacks not. known in fools.

34Righteousness dignifies a nation,

but sin disgraces a people.

35The king favors an insightful servant,

but is furious at a shameful one.

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Proverbs 14: CEB

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Proverbs 14

Wise People Live Righteously

1The wisest of women builds up her home,

but a stupid one tears it down with her own hands.

2Whoever lives right fears the Lord,

but a person who is devious in his ways despises him.

3Because of a stubborn fool’s words a whip is lifted against him,

but wise people are protected by their speech.

4Where there are no cattle, the feeding trough is empty,

but the strength of an ox produces plentiful harvests.

5A trustworthy witness does not lie,

but a dishonest witness breathes lies.

6A mocker searches for wisdom without finding it,

but knowledge comes easily to a person who has understanding.

7Stay away from a fool,

because you will not receive knowledge from his lips.

8The wisdom of a sensible person guides his way of life,

but the stupidity of fools misleads them.

9Stubborn fools make fun of guilt,

but there is forgiveness among decent people.

10The heart knows its own bitterness,

and no stranger can share its joy.

11The houses of wicked people will be destroyed,

but the tents of decent people will continue to expand.

12There is a way that seems right to a person,

but eventually it ends in death.

13Even while laughing a heart can ache,

and joy can end in grief.

14A heart that turns ⌞from God⌟ becomes bored with its own ways,

but a good person is satisfied with God’s ways.

15A gullible person believes anything,

but a sensible person watches his step.

16A wise person is cautious and turns away from evil,

but a fool is careless and overconfident.

17A short-tempered person acts stupidly,

and a person who plots evil is hated.

18Gullible people are gifted with stupidity,

but sensible people are crowned with knowledge.

19Evil people will bow to good people.

Wicked people will bow at the gates of a righteous person.

20A poor person is hated even by his neighbor,

but a rich person is loved by many.

21Whoever despises his neighbor sins,

but blessed is the one who is kind to humble people.

22Don’t those who stray plan what is evil,

while those who are merciful and faithful plan what is good?

23In hard work there is always something gained,

but idle talk leads only to poverty.

24The crown of wise people is their wealth.

The stupidity of fools is just that—stupidity!

25An honest witness saves lives,

but one who tells lies is dangerous.

26In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,

and his children will have a place of refuge.

27The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life

to turn ⌞one⌟ away from the grasp of death.

28A large population is an honor for a king,

but without people a ruler is ruined.

29A person of great understanding is patient,

but a short temper is the height of stupidity.

30A tranquil heart makes for a healthy body,

but jealousy is ⌞like⌟ bone cancer.

31Whoever oppresses the poor insults his maker,

but whoever is kind to the needy honors him.

32A wicked person is thrown down by his own wrongdoing,

but even in his death a righteous person has a refuge.

33Wisdom finds rest in the heart of an understanding person.

Even fools recognize this.

Wise Ways to Live

34Righteousness lifts up a nation,

but sin is a disgrace in any society.

35A king is delighted with a servant who acts wisely,

but he is furious with one who acts shamefully.

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