Proverbs 14

¹Every wise woman builds her house,

but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

²He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD,

but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.

³The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back,

but the lips of the wise protect them.

⁴Where no oxen are, the crib is clean,

but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

⁵A truthful witness will not lie,

but a false witness pours out lies.

⁶A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it,

but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.

⁷Stay away from a foolish man,

for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.

⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way,

but the folly of fools is deceit.

⁹Fools mock at making atonement for sins,

but amongst the upright there is good will.

¹⁰The heart knows its own bitterness and joy;

he will not share these with a stranger.

¹¹The house of the wicked will be overthrown,

but the tent of the upright will flourish.

¹²There is a way which seems right to a man,

but in the end it leads to death.

¹³Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful,

and mirth may end in heaviness.

¹⁴The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways;

likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.

¹⁵A simple man believes everything,

but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.

¹⁶A wise man fears and shuns evil,

but the fool is hot headed and reckless.

¹⁷He who is quick to become angry will commit folly,

and a crafty man is hated.

¹⁸The simple inherit folly,

but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

¹⁹The evil bow down before the good,

and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

²⁰The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbour,

but the rich person has many friends.

²¹He who despises his neighbour sins,

but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.

²²Don’t they go astray who plot evil?

But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.

²³In all hard work there is profit,

but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.

²⁴The crown of the wise is their riches,

but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.

²⁵A truthful witness saves souls,

but a false witness is deceitful.

²⁶In the fear of the LORD is a secure fortress,

and he will be a refuge for his children.

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

turning people from the snares of death.

²⁸In the multitude of people is the king’s glory,

but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.

²⁹He who is slow to anger has great understanding,

but he who has a quick temper displays folly.

³⁰The life of the body is a heart at peace,

but envy rots the bones.

³¹He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker,

but he who is kind to the needy honours him.

³²The wicked is brought down in his calamity,

but in death, the righteous has a refuge.

³³Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,

and is even made known in the inward part of fools.

³⁴Righteousness exalts a nation,

but sin is a disgrace to any people.

³⁵The king’s favour is towards a servant who deals wisely,

but his wrath is towards one who causes shame.