Proverbs 14
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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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 14
14
1 # [ch. 9:1; 24:3] The wisest of women #Deut. 25:9; Ruth 4:11 builds her house,
but folly with her own hands #[ch. 11:11]tears it down.
2Whoever #ch. 19:1; 28:6 walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
but he who is #ch. 2:15devious in his ways despises him.
3By the mouth of a fool comes #[Jer. 18:18] a rod for his back,#14:3 Or In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride
# ch. 12:6 but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5 # [Ex. 23:1] A faithful witness does not lie,
but #See ch. 6:19a false witness breathes out lies.
6 # [ch. 24:7] A scoffer seeks wisdom #[Ps. 25:9; 1 Pet. 5:5] in vain,
but #[ch. 8:9; 15:14; 17:24]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 the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools is deceiving.
9 # [ch. 10:23] Fools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance.#14:9 Hebrew but among the upright is acceptance
10The heart knows its own #[1 Sam. 1:10]; See Job 3:20bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.
11 # [ch. 3:33; 15:25; Job 8:15; 21:28] The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 # ch. 16:25; See ch. 12:15 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but #[ch. 5:5; Rom. 6:21]; See ch. 7:27its end is the way to death.#14:12 Hebrew ways of death
13Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and #[Eccles. 2:2; Luke 6:25] the end of joy may be #ch. 10:1grief.
14The backslider in heart will be #[ch. 1:31; Matt. 6:2, 5] filled with the fruit of his ways,
and #ch. 12:14; Isa. 3:10a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
15 # See ch. 1:4 The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
16 # [ch. 22:3; 27:12] One who is wise is cautious#14:16 Or fears [the Lord] and #[ch. 3:7]; See Job 28:28; Ps. 34:14turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
17A man of #[ver. 29]quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
18The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 # [Gen. 42:6; 1 Sam. 2:36] The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 # ch. 19:7 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
# ch. 19:4 but the rich has many friends.
21Whoever #ch. 11:12 despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but #Ps. 41:1blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22Do they not go astray who #See ch. 3:29 devise evil?
Those who devise good meet#14:22 Or show #ch. 3:3steadfast love and faithfulness.
23In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk #[ch. 11:24; 21:5; 22:16]tends only to poverty.
24The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the folly of fools brings folly.
25A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who #ver. 5breathes out lies is deceitful.
26In the fear of the Lord one has #[ch. 1:33] strong confidence,
and #[Ps. 73:15] his children will have #See Ps. 14:6a refuge.
27The fear of the Lord is #See ch. 10:11 a fountain of life,
that one may #See ch. 13:14turn away from the snares of death.
28In #[1 Kgs. 4:20]a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
but without people a prince is ruined.
29Whoever is #ch. 16:32; 19:11; [ver. 17; Eccles. 7:9; James 1:19]slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30A tranquil#14:30 Or healing heart gives #See ch. 4:22 life to the flesh,
but #[Ps. 112:10] envy#14:30 Or jealousy makes #ch. 12:4the bones rot.
31Whoever oppresses a poor man #ch. 17:5; [Matt. 25:40, 45] insults his #ch. 22:2; See Job 35:10 Maker,
# ch. 28:8 but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
32 # ch. 24:16 The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
but #Gen. 49:18; Ps. 16:11; 17:15; 23:4; 2 Cor. 1:9; 5:8; 2 Tim. 4:18; [Num. 23:10]; See Job 19:25-27the righteous finds refuge in his death.
33Wisdom #Eccles. 7:9; ch. 12:16; 29:11rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.#14:33 Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools
34Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
35A servant who deals wisely has #[ch. 16:13; 22:11]; See Matt. 24:45-47the king’s favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
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