Proverbs 14
14
A Way That Leads to Hell
1Lady Wisdom builds a lovely home;
Sir Fool comes along and tears it down brick by brick.
2An honest life shows respect for God;
a degenerate life is a slap in his face.
3Frivolous talk provokes a derisive smile;
wise speech evokes nothing but respect.
4No cattle, no crops;
a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow.
5A true witness never lies;
a false witness makes a business of it.
6Cynics look high and low for wisdom—and never find it;
the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!
7Escape quickly from the company of fools;
they’re a waste of your time, a waste of your words.
8The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track;
the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.
9The stupid ridicule right and wrong,
but a moral life is a favored life.
10The person who shuns the bitter moments of friends
will be an outsider at their celebrations.
11Lives of careless wrongdoing are run-down shacks;
holy living builds soaring cathedrals.
12-13There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough;
look again—it leads straight to hell.
Sure, those people appear to be having a good time,
but all that laughter will end in heartbreak.
Sift and Weigh Every Word
14A mean person gets paid back in meanness,
a gracious person in grace.
15The gullible believe anything they’re told;
the prudent sift and weigh every word.
16The wise watch their steps and avoid evil;
fools are headstrong and reckless.
17The hotheaded do things they’ll later regret;
the coldhearted get the cold shoulder.
18Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion;
wise realists plant their feet on the ground.
19Eventually, evil will pay tribute to good;
the wicked will respect God-loyal people.
20An unlucky loser is shunned by all,
but everyone loves a winner.
21It’s criminal to ignore a neighbor in need,
but compassion for the poor—what a blessing!
22Isn’t it obvious that conspirators lose out,
while the thoughtful win love and trust?
23Hard work always pays off;
mere talk puts no bread on the table.
24The wise accumulate wisdom;
fools get stupider by the day.
25Souls are saved by truthful witness
and betrayed by the spread of lies.
26The Fear-of-God builds up confidence,
and makes a world safe for your children.
27The Fear-of-God is a spring of living water
so you won’t go off drinking from poisoned wells.
28The mark of a good leader is loyal followers;
leadership is nothing without a following.
29Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding;
a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.
30A sound mind makes for a robust body,
but runaway emotions corrode the bones.
31You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless;
when you’re kind to the poor, you honor God.
32The evil of bad people leaves them out in the cold;
the integrity of good people creates a safe place for living.
33Lady Wisdom is at home in an understanding heart—
fools never even get to say hello.
34God-devotion makes a country strong;
God-avoidance leaves people weak.
35Diligent work gets a warm commendation;
shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.
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.