14 智慧的女子建立家园,
    愚昧的女子亲手拆毁。
行为正直的人敬畏耶和华,
    行事邪僻的人轻视耶和华。
愚人的狂言招来鞭打,
    智者的唇舌保护自己。
没有耕牛槽头净,
    五谷丰登需壮牛。
忠实的证人不会撒谎,
    虚假的证人谎话连篇。
嘲讽者徒然寻智慧,
    明哲人轻易得知识。
你要远离愚昧人,
    他口中毫无知识。
明哲凭智慧辨道,
    愚人被愚昧欺骗。
愚妄人戏看罪恶,
    正直人彼此恩待。
10 心头的愁苦,唯有自己明白;
    心中的喜乐,外人无法分享。
11 恶人的房屋必遭毁灭,
    正直人的帐篷必兴盛。
12 有的路看似正确,
    最终却通向死亡。
13 欢笑难消内心的痛苦,
    欢乐过后,悲伤犹在。
14 背弃正道,自食恶果;
    善人行善,必得善报。
15 愚昧人什么都信,
    明哲人步步谨慎。
16 智者小心谨慎,远离恶事;
    愚人骄傲自负,行事鲁莽。
17 急躁易怒的人做事愚昧,
    阴险奸诈之人遭人痛恨。
18 愚昧人得愚昧作产业,
    明哲人得知识为冠冕。
19 坏人俯伏在善人面前,
    恶人俯伏在义人门口。
20 穷人遭邻舍厌,
    富人朋友众多。
21 藐视邻舍是罪过,
    怜悯穷人蒙福乐。
22 图谋恶事的步入歧途,
    行善的受爱戴和拥护。
23 殷勤工作,带来益处;
    满嘴空谈,导致贫穷。
24 智者以财富为冠冕,
    愚人以愚昧为装饰。
25 诚实的证人挽救性命,
    口吐谎言者欺骗他人。
26 敬畏耶和华的信心坚定,
    他的子孙也有庇护所。
27 敬畏耶和华是生命的泉源,
    可以使人避开死亡的陷阱。
28 人民众多,是君王的荣耀;
    没有臣民,君主必然败亡。
29 不轻易发怒者深明事理,
    鲁莽急躁的人显出愚昧。
30 心平气和,滋润生命;
    妒火中烧,啃蚀骨头。
31 欺压穷人等于侮辱造物主,
    怜悯贫弱就是尊敬造物主。
32 恶人因恶行而灭亡,
    义人到死仍有倚靠。
33 智慧存在哲士心里,
    愚人心中充满无知。
34 公义能叫邦国兴盛,
    罪恶是人民的耻辱。
35 明智的臣子蒙王喜悦,
    可耻的仆人惹王发怒。

14 Every wise woman builds her house,(A)
but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.(B)

Whoever lives with integrity fears the Lord,(C)
but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.(D)

The proud speech of a fool brings a rod of discipline,[a]
but the lips of the wise protect them.(E)

Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty,[b]
but an abundant harvest comes
through the strength of an ox.

An honest witness does not deceive,
but a dishonest witness utters lies.(F)

A mocker seeks wisdom and doesn’t find it,
but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive.

Stay away from a foolish man;
you will gain no knowledge from his speech.(G)

The sensible man’s wisdom is to consider his way,
but the stupidity of fools deceives them.

Fools mock at making restitution,[c]
but there is goodwill among the upright.

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

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will stand.[d](H)

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

13 Even in laughter a heart may be sad,
and joy may end in grief.(K)

14 The disloyal one will get what his conduct deserves,
and a good man, what his deeds deserve.(L)

15 The inexperienced one believes anything,(M)
but the sensible one watches[e] his steps.

16 A wise man is cautious and turns from evil,(N)
but a fool is easily angered and is careless.[f]

17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
and a man who schemes is hated.(O)

18 The inexperienced inherit foolishness,
but the sensible are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil bow before those who are good,
the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.

20 A poor man is hated even by his neighbor,(P)
but there are many who love the rich.(Q)

21 The one who despises his neighbor sins,(R)
but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.(S)

22 Don’t those who plan evil go astray?(T)
But those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.(U)

23 There is profit in all hard work,
but endless talk[g] leads only to poverty.(V)

24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the foolishness of fools produces foolishness.

25 A truthful witness rescues lives,
but one who utters lies is deceitful.(W)

26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence
and his children have a refuge.(X)

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning people away from the snares of death.(Y)

28 A large population is a king’s splendor,
but a shortage of people is a ruler’s devastation.

29 A patient person shows great understanding,(Z)
but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.

30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,(AA)
but jealousy is rottenness to the bones.(AB)

31 The one who oppresses the poor person insults his Maker,(AC)
but one who is kind to the needy honors Him.(AD)

32 The wicked one is thrown down by his own sin,(AE)
but the righteous one has a refuge in his death.(AF)

33 Wisdom resides in the heart of the discerning;(AG)
she is known[h] even among fools.

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.(AH)

35 A king favors a wise servant,(AI)
but his anger falls on a disgraceful one.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:3 Some emend to In the mouth of a fool is a rod for his back
  2. Proverbs 14:4 Or clean
  3. Proverbs 14:9 Or at guilt offerings
  4. Proverbs 14:11 Lit flourish
  5. Proverbs 14:15 Lit the prudent understand
  6. Proverbs 14:16 Or and falls
  7. Proverbs 14:23 Lit but word of lips
  8. Proverbs 14:33 LXX reads unknown

14 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

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

A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

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

Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

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

19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

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

21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

28 In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

35 The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.