23 In all toil there is profit,
    but mere talk (A)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 (B)breathes out lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord one has (C)strong confidence,
    and (D)his children will have (E)a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is (F)a fountain of life,
    that one may (G)turn away from the snares of death.
28 In (H)a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
    but without people a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is (I)slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30 A tranquil[a] heart gives (J)life to the flesh,
    but (K)envy[b] makes (L)the bones rot.
31 Whoever oppresses a poor man (M)insults his (N)Maker,
    (O)but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
32 (P)The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
    but (Q)the righteous finds refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom (R)rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
    but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.[c]
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
    but sin is a reproach to any people.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:30 Or healing
  2. Proverbs 14:30 Or jealousy
  3. Proverbs 14:33 Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools

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.(A)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Footnotes

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