Proverbs14

¹ The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.

² Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises him.

³ By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

⁴ Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

⁵ A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.

⁶ A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

⁷ Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

⁸ The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.

⁹ Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.

¹⁰ The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.

¹¹ The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.

¹² There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

¹³ Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.

¹⁴ The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.

¹⁵ The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

¹⁶ One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.

¹⁷ A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.

¹⁸ The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

¹⁹ The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

²⁰ The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.

²¹ Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

²² Do they not go astray who devise evil? Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.

²³ In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.

²⁴ The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly.

²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.

²⁶ In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.

²⁷ The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.

²⁸ In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.

²⁹ Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

³⁰ A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.

³¹ Whoever oppresses a poor insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

³² The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death.

³³ Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.

³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

³⁵ A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.