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Proverbs 14
New International Version
Proverbs 14
New International Version
14 The wise woman builds her house,(A)
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
2 Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
but those who despise him are devious in their ways.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
but from the strength of an ox(D) come abundant harvests.
5 An honest witness does not deceive,
but a false witness pours out lies.(E)
6 The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.(F)
7 Stay away from a fool,
for you will not find knowledge on their lips.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,(G)
but the folly of fools is deception.(H)
9 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.
13 Even in laughter(M) the heart may ache,
and rejoicing may end in grief.
15 The simple believe anything,
but the prudent give thought to their steps.(P)
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)
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)
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
- Proverbs 14:22 Or show
- Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known
Proverbs 14
Lexham English Bible
Proverbs 14
Lexham English Bible
14 The wisest of women[a] builds her house,
but the foolish tears it down with her hands.
2 He who walks in uprightness fears Yahweh,
but he who is devious in his ways displeases him.
3 In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride,
but the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 When there are no[b] oxen the manger is empty,
but an abundance of crops comes by the strength of an ox.[c]
5 A faithful witness does not lie,
but he who breathes out falsehood is a witness of deceit.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, but there is none,
but knowledge comes easily to him who understands.[d]
7 Leave the presence of a foolish man,[e]
for you will not come to know words of knowledge.[f]
8 The wisdom of the clever is understanding his ways,
but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Fools mock[g] the guilt offering,
but among the upright, it is favorable.
10 The heart[h] knows the bitterness of its soul,[i]
but in its joy, it will not share itself with a stranger.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that seems upright to[j] a man,
but its end is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter, a heart may be sad,
and the end of joy may be grief.
14 From his ways, the perverse of heart will be satisfied,
and from his own,[k] so shall a good man.
15 The simple will believe every word,
but the clever will consider his step.
16 The wise is cautious and turns from evil,
but the fool throws off restraint and is confident.
17 He who is short of temper[l] will act foolishly,
and the man who schemes will be hated.
18 The simple are adorned with folly,
but the clever are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
but the lovers of the rich are many.
21 He who despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but he who has mercy on the poor blesses him.
22 Have they not erred, those who plan evil?
But loyalty and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
23 In all toil, there is profit,
but the talk[m] of lips leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth;
the folly of fools is folly.
25 He who saves lives[n] is a witness of truth,
but he who utters lies is a betrayer.
26 In the fear of Yahweh, there is confidence of strength,
and for his children, there will be refuge.
27 The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life,
in order to turn from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the glory of the king,
but without a population, a prince is ruined.
29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
but the hasty of spirit[o] exalts folly.
30 A heart[p] of tranquility[q] is life to the flesh,
but causes bones of passion to rot.
31 He who oppresses the poor insults him who made him,
but he who has mercy on the poor honors him.
32 By his evildoing, the wicked will be overthrown,
and the righteous will find refuge in his death.
33 In the heart[r] of him who has understanding, wisdom rests,
but even in the midst of fools it becomes known.
34 Righteousness will exalt a nation,
but sin is a reproach to a people.
35 The favor of a king is for the servant who deals wisely,
but his wrath will be on him who acts shamefully.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:1 Literally “wise ones of women”
- Proverbs 14:4 Literally “In there is no”
- Proverbs 14:4 Hebrew “bull”
- Proverbs 14:6 Literally “to one who understands it comes easy”
- Proverbs 14:7 Literally “from the presence belonging to a man of foolishness”
- Proverbs 14:7 Literally “lips of knowledge”
- Proverbs 14:9 Hebrew “he mocks”
- Proverbs 14:10 Or “mind”
- Proverbs 14:10 Or “life,” or “inner self”
- Proverbs 14:12 Literally “to the face of”
- Proverbs 14:14 Literally “from upon him”
- Proverbs 14:17 Literally “nostril”
- Proverbs 14:23 Literally “word, matter, thing”
- Proverbs 14:25 Or “souls,” or “inner selves”
- Proverbs 14:29 Or “breath”
- Proverbs 14:30 Or “mind”
- Proverbs 14:30 Or “he who heals”
- Proverbs 14:33 Or “mind”
Proverbs 14
World English Bible
Proverbs 14
World English Bible
14 Every wise woman builds her house,
but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears Yahweh,
but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
3 The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back,
but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean,
but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A truthful witness will not lie,
but a false witness pours out lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it,
but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
7 Stay away from a foolish man,
for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way,
but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Fools mock at making atonement for sins,
but among the upright there is good will.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness and joy;
he will not share these with a stranger.
11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way which seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful,
and mirth may end in heaviness.
14 The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways;
likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
15 A simple man believes everything,
but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
16 A wise man fears and shuns evil,
but the fool is hot headed and reckless.
17 He who is quick to become angry will commit folly,
and a crafty man is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor,
but the rich person has many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins,
but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.
22 Don’t they go astray who plot evil?
But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
23 In all hard work there is profit,
but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.
25 A truthful witness saves souls,
but a false witness is deceitful.
26 In the fear of Yahweh is a secure fortress,
and he will be a refuge for his children.
27 The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life,
turning people from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the king’s glory,
but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
30 The life of the body is a heart at peace,
but envy rots the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker,
but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
32 The wicked is brought down in his calamity,
but in death, the righteous has a refuge.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
and is even made known in the inward part of fools.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely,
but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
Proverbs 14
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
Proverbs 14
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
14 Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2 He who walks in uprightness reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, but he who is contrary and devious in his ways despises Him.
3 In the [a]fool’s own mouth is a rod [to shame] his pride, but the wise men’s lips preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, the grain crib is empty, but much increase [of crops] comes by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness breathes out falsehoods.
6 A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain [for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it], but knowledge is easy to him who [being teachable] understands.
7 Go from the presence of a foolish and self-confident man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.
8 The Wisdom [godly Wisdom, which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of [self-confident] fools is to deceive.
9 Fools make a mock of sin and sin mocks the fools [who are its victims; a sin offering made by them only mocks them, bringing them disappointment and disfavor], but among the upright there is the favor of God.(A)
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.
11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown, but the tent of the upright shall flourish.
12 There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of mirth is heaviness and grief.
14 The backslider in heart [from God and from fearing God] shall be filled with [the fruit of] his own ways, and a good man shall be satisfied with [the fruit of] his ways [with the holy thoughts and actions which his heart prompts and in which he delights].
15 The simpleton believes every word he hears, but the prudent man looks and considers well where he is going.
16 A wise man suspects danger and cautiously avoids evil, but the fool bears himself insolently and is [presumptuously] confident.
17 He who foams up quickly and flies into a passion deals foolishly, and a man of wicked plots and plans is hated.
18 The simple acquire folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil men bow before the good, and the wicked [stand suppliantly] at the gates of the [uncompromisingly] righteous.
20 The poor is hated even by his own neighbor, but the rich has many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins [against God, his fellowman, and himself], but happy (blessed and fortunate) is he who is kind and merciful to the poor.
22 Do they not err who devise evil and wander from the way of life? But loving-kindness and mercy, loyalty and faithfulness, shall be to those who devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit, but idle talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth of Wisdom, but the foolishness of [self-confident] fools is [nothing but] folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives, but a deceitful witness speaks lies [and endangers lives].
26 In the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children shall always have a place of refuge.
27 Reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.(B)
28 In a multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in a lack of people is the prince’s ruin.
29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is hasty of spirit exposes and exalts his folly.(C)
30 A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches, mocks, and insults his Maker, but he who is kind and merciful to the needy honors Him.(D)
32 The wicked is overthrown through his wrongdoing and calamity, but the [consistently] righteous has hope and confidence even in death.
33 Wisdom rests [silently] in the mind and heart of him who has understanding, but that which is in the inward part of [self-confident] fools is made known.(E)
34 Uprightness and right standing with God (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a wise and discreet servant, but his wrath is against him who does shamefully.(F)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:3 The word “fool” in the Old Testament seldom, if ever, is used to describe the feebleminded, imbecile, idiot, or moron. Rather, it always has within it the meaning of a rebel, especially against God and the laws of order, decency, and justice. Notice in Proverbs how many such characteristics of rebelliousness are listed against the fool, and see God’s attitude toward them.
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Lexham English Bible (LEB)
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