Proverbs 14:1-14

King James Version

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

²He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

³In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

⁴Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

⁵A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

⁶A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

⁷Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

⁹Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

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

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

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

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

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

Proverbs 14:1-14

New International Version

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

²Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

³A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,^(B)
but the lips of the wise protect them.^(C)

⁴Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
but from the strength of an ox^(D) come abundant harvests.

⁵An honest witness does not deceive,
but a false witness pours out lies.^(E)

⁶The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.^(F)

⁷Stay away from a fool,
for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,^(G)
but the folly of fools is deception.^(H)

⁹Fools mock at making amends for sin,
but goodwill is found among the upright.

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

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

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

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

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

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

New International Version (NIV)