15 (A)The simple believes everything,
    but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
16 (B)One who is wise is cautious[a] and (C)turns away from evil,
    but a fool is reckless and careless.
17 A man of (D)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 (E)The evil bow down before the good,
    the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 (F)The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
    (G)but the rich has many friends.
21 Whoever (H)despises his neighbor is a sinner,
    but (I)blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22 Do they not go astray who (J)devise evil?
    Those who devise good meet[b] (K)steadfast love and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
    but mere talk (L)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 (M)breathes out lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord one has (N)strong confidence,
    and (O)his children will have (P)a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is (Q)a fountain of life,
    that one may (R)turn away from the snares of death.
28 In (S)a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
    but without people a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is (T)slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30 A tranquil[c] heart gives (U)life to the flesh,
    but (V)envy[d] makes (W)the bones rot.
31 Whoever oppresses a poor man (X)insults his (Y)Maker,
    (Z)but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
32 (AA)The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
    but (AB)the righteous finds refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom (AC)rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
    but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.[e]
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
    but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 A servant who deals wisely has (AD)the king's favor,
    but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
15 (AE)A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but (AF)a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but (AG)the mouths of fools pour out folly.
(AH)The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
(AI)A gentle[f] tongue is (AJ)a tree of life,
    but (AK)perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:16 Or fears [the Lord]
  2. Proverbs 14:22 Or show
  3. Proverbs 14:30 Or healing
  4. Proverbs 14:30 Or jealousy
  5. Proverbs 14:33 Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools
  6. Proverbs 15:4 Or healing

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

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

17 A quick-tempered person(D) does foolish things,(E)
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.(F)

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.(G)

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

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

22 Do not those who plot evil go astray?(K)
    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.(L)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15 A gentle answer(AC) turns away wrath,(AD)
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,(AE)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.(AF)

The eyes(AG) of the Lord are everywhere,(AH)
    keeping watch on the wicked and the good.(AI)

The soothing tongue(AJ) is a tree of life,(AK)
    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.(AL)

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