Proverbs 14
Good News Translation
14 Homes are made by the wisdom of women, but are destroyed by foolishness.
2 Be honest and you show that you have reverence for the Lord; be dishonest and you show that you do not.
3 Proud fools talk too much; the words of the wise protect them.
4 Without any oxen to pull the plow your barn will be empty, but with them it will be full of grain.[a]
5 A reliable witness always tells the truth, but an unreliable one tells nothing but lies.
6 Conceited people can never become wise, but intelligent people learn easily.
7 Stay away from foolish people; they have nothing to teach you.
8 Why is a clever person wise? Because he knows what to do. Why is a stupid person foolish? Because he only thinks he knows.
9 Foolish people don't care if they sin, but good people want to be forgiven.[b]
10 Your joy is your own; your bitterness is your own. No one can share them with you.
11 A good person's house will still be standing after an evildoer's house has been destroyed.
12 (A)What you think is the right road may lead to death.
13 Laughter may hide sadness. When happiness is gone, sorrow is always there.
14 Bad people will get what they deserve. Good people will be rewarded for their deeds.[c]
15 A fool will believe anything; smart people watch their step.
16 Sensible people are careful to stay out of trouble, but stupid people are careless and act too quickly.
17 People with a hot temper do foolish things; wiser people remain calm.[d]
18 Ignorant people get what their foolishness deserves, but the clever are rewarded with knowledge.
19 Evil people will have to bow down to the righteous and humbly beg their favor.
20 No one likes the poor, not even their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.
21 If you want to be happy, be kind to the poor; it is a sin to despise anyone.
22 You will earn the trust and respect of others if you work for good; if you work for evil, you are making a mistake.
23 Work and you will earn a living; if you sit around talking you will be poor.
24 Wise people are rewarded with wealth, but fools are known by[e] their foolishness.
25 A witness saves lives when he tells the truth; when he tells lies, he betrays people.
26 Reverence for the Lord gives confidence and security to a man and his family.
27 Do you want to avoid death? Reverence for the Lord is a fountain of life.
28 A king's greatness depends on how many people he rules; without them he is nothing.
29 If you stay calm, you are wise, but if you have a hot temper, you only show how stupid you are.
30 Peace of mind makes the body healthy, but jealousy is like a cancer.
31 If you oppress poor people, you insult the God who made them; but kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship.
32 Wicked people bring about their own downfall by their evil deeds, but good people are protected by their integrity.[f]
33 Wisdom is in every thought of intelligent people; fools know nothing[g] about wisdom.
34 Righteousness makes a nation great; sin is a disgrace to any nation.
35 Kings are pleased with competent officials, but they punish those who fail them.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:4 your barn will be … grain; or you may grow a little grain, but with them you can grow much more.
- Proverbs 14:9 Verse 9 in Hebrew is unclear.
- Proverbs 14:14 Probable text for their deeds; Hebrew from upon them.
- Proverbs 14:17 One ancient translation remain calm; Hebrew are hated.
- Proverbs 14:24 Probable text are known by; Hebrew unclear.
- Proverbs 14:32 Some ancient translations integrity; Hebrew death.
- Proverbs 14:33 One ancient translation nothing; Hebrew does not have this word.
Proverbs 14
New Century Version
14 A wise woman strengthens her family,
but a foolish woman destroys hers by what she does.
2 People who live good lives respect the Lord,
but those who live evil lives don’t.
3 Fools will be punished for their proud words,
but the words of the wise will protect them.
4 When there are no oxen, no food is in the barn.
But with a strong ox, much grain can be grown.
5 A truthful witness does not lie,
but a false witness tells nothing but lies.
6 Those who make fun of wisdom look for it and do not find it,
but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding.
7 Stay away from fools,
because they can’t teach you anything.
8 A wise person will understand what to do,
but a foolish person is dishonest.
9 Fools don’t care if they sin,
but honest people work at being right.
10 No one else can know your sadness,
and strangers cannot share your joy.
11 The wicked person’s house will be destroyed,
but a good person’s tent will still be standing.
12 Some people think they are doing right,
but in the end it leads to death.
13 Someone who is laughing may be sad inside,
and joy may end in sadness.
14 Evil people will be paid back for their evil ways,
and good people will be rewarded for their good ones.
15 Fools will believe anything,
but the wise think about what they do.
16 Wise people are careful and stay out of trouble,
but fools are careless and quick to act.
17 Someone with a quick temper does foolish things,
but someone with understanding remains calm.
18 Fools are rewarded with nothing but more foolishness,
but the wise are rewarded with knowledge.
19 Evil people will bow down to those who are good;
the wicked will bow down at the door of those who do right.
20 The poor are rejected, even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends.
21 It is a sin to hate your neighbor,
but being kind to the needy brings happiness.
22 Those who make evil plans will be ruined,
but those who plan to do good will be loved and trusted.
23 Those who work hard make a profit,
but those who only talk will be poor.
24 Wise people are rewarded with wealth,
but fools only get more foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but a false witness is a traitor.
26 Those who respect the Lord will have security,
and their children will be protected.
27 Respect for the Lord gives life.
It is like a fountain that can save people from death.
28 A king is honored when he has many people to rule,
but a prince is ruined if he has none.
29 Patient people have great understanding,
but people with quick tempers show their foolishness.
30 Peace of mind means a healthy body,
but jealousy will rot your bones.
31 Whoever mistreats the poor insults their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
32 The wicked are ruined by their own evil,
but those who do right are protected even in death.
33 Wisdom lives in those with understanding,
and even fools recognize it.
34 Doing what is right makes a nation great,
but sin will bring disgrace to any people.
35 A king is pleased with a wise servant,
but he will become angry with one who causes him shame.
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
