14 A wise woman [a]buildeth her house: but the foolish destroyeth it with her own hands.

(A)He that walketh in his [b]righteousness, feareth the Lord: but he that is lewd in his ways, despiseth him.

In the mouth of the foolish is the [c]rod of pride: but the lips of the wise preserve them.

Where none [d]oxen are, there the crib is empty: but much increase cometh by the strength of the ox.

A faithful witness will not lie: but a false record will speak lies.

[e]A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy to him that will understand.

Depart from the foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the foolishness of the fools is deceit.

The fool maketh a mock of [f]sin: but among the righteous there is favor.

10 The heart knoweth the [g]bitterness of his soul, and the stranger shall not meddle with his joy.

11 The house of the wicked shall be destroyed: but the tabernacle of the righteous shall flourish.

12 (B)There is a way that seemeth right to a man: but the issues thereof are the ways of death.

13 Even in laughing the heart is sorrowful, [h]and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

14 The heart that declineth, [i]shall be satiated with his own ways: but a good man shall depart from him.

15 The foolish will believe everything: but the prudent will consider his steps.

16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil, but a fool rageth, and is careless.

17 He that is hasty to anger, commiteth folly, and a [j]busybody is hated.

18 The foolish do inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil shall bow before the good, and the wicked [k]at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbor: but the friends of the rich are many.

21 The sinner despiseth his neighbor: but he that hath mercy on the poor, is blessed.

22 Do not they err that imagine evil? but to them that think on good things, shall be mercy and truth.

23 In all labor there is abundance: but the talk of the lips bringeth only want.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches, and the folly of fools is foolishness.

25 A faithful witness delivereth souls: but a deceiver speaketh lies.

26 In the fear of the Lord is an assured strength, and his children shall have hope.

27 The fear of the Lord is as a wellspring of life, to avoid the snares of death.

28 In the multitude of the [l]people is the honor of a King, and for the want of people cometh the destruction of the Prince.

29 He that is slow to wrath, is of great wisdom: but he that is of an hasty mind, exalteth folly.

30 A sound heart is the life of the [m]flesh: but envy is the rotting of the bones.

31 (C)He that oppresseth the poor, reproveth him that made him: but he honoreth him, that hath mercy on the poor.

32 The wicked shall be cast away for his malice: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding, and is known [n]in the midst of fools.

34 Justice exalteth a nation, [o]but sin is a shame to the people.

35 The pleasure of a King is in a wise servant: but his wrath shall be toward him that is lewd.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:1 That is, taketh pain to profit her family, and to do that which concerneth her duty in her house.
  2. Proverbs 14:2 That is, in uprightness of heart, and without hypocrisy.
  3. Proverbs 14:3 His proud tongue shall cause him to be punished.
  4. Proverbs 14:4 By the ox is meant labor, and by the crib the barn: meaning, without labor there is no profit.
  5. Proverbs 14:6 For the maintenance of his own ambition, and not for God’s glory, as Simon Magus.
  6. Proverbs 14:9 Doth not know the grievousness thereof, nor God’s judgments against the same.
  7. Proverbs 14:10 As a man’s conscience is witness of his own grief, so another cannot feel the joy and comfort which a man feeleth in himself.
  8. Proverbs 14:13 He showeth the allurement unto sin, seemeth sweet, but the end thereof is destruction.
  9. Proverbs 14:14 He that forsaketh God shall be punished, and made weary of his sins, wherein he delighted.
  10. Proverbs 14:17 Hebrew, the man of imaginations.
  11. Proverbs 14:19 If this come not daily to pass, we must consider that it is because of our sins, which let God’s working.
  12. Proverbs 14:28 That is, the strength of a king standeth in many people.
  13. Proverbs 14:30 Or, body.
  14. Proverbs 14:33 Forasmuch as they are convicted thereby and put to silence.
  15. Proverbs 14:34 Or, and the mercy of the people is a sacrifice for sin.

14 The wise woman builds her house,(A)
    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
    but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,(B)
    but the lips of the wise protect them.(C)

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
    but from the strength of an ox(D) come abundant harvests.

An honest witness does not deceive,
    but a false witness pours out lies.(E)

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.(F)

Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,(G)
    but the folly of fools is deception.(H)

Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,(I)
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.(J)

12 There is a way that appears to be right,(K)
    but in the end it leads to death.(L)

13 Even in laughter(M) the heart may ache,
    and rejoicing may end in grief.

14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,(N)
    and the good rewarded for theirs.(O)

15 The simple believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps.(P)

16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,(Q)
    but a fool(R) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

17 A quick-tempered person(S) does foolish things,(T)
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.(U)

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

19 Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
    and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.(V)

20 The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
    but the rich have many friends.(W)

21 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,(X)
    but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.(Y)

22 Do not those who plot evil go astray?(Z)
    But those who plan what is good find[a] love and faithfulness.

23 All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

24 The wealth of the wise is their crown,
    but the folly of fools yields folly.(AA)

25 A truthful witness saves lives,
    but a false witness is deceitful.(AB)

26 Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,(AC)
    and for their children it will be a refuge.(AD)

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,(AE)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(AF)

28 A large population is a king’s glory,
    but without subjects a prince is ruined.(AG)

29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,(AH)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.(AI)

30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.(AJ)

31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,(AK)
    but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.(AL)

32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,(AM)
    but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.(AN)

33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning(AO)
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.[b]

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,(AP)
    but sin condemns any people.

35 A king delights in a wise servant,
    but a shameful servant arouses his fury.(AQ)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:22 Or show
  2. Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known