Proverbs 14
New Living Translation
14 A wise woman builds her home,
but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.
2 Those who follow the right path fear the Lord;
those who take the wrong path despise him.
3 A fool’s proud talk becomes a rod that beats him,
but the words of the wise keep them safe.
4 Without oxen a stable stays clean,
but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.
5 An honest witness does not lie;
a false witness breathes lies.
6 A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it,
but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding.
7 Stay away from fools,
for you won’t find knowledge on their lips.
8 The prudent understand where they are going,
but fools deceive themselves.
9 Fools make fun of guilt,
but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.
10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
and no one else can fully share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the godly will flourish.
12 There is a path before each person that seems right,
but it ends in death.
13 Laughter can conceal a heavy heart,
but when the laughter ends, the grief remains.
14 Backsliders get what they deserve;
good people receive their reward.
15 Only simpletons believe everything they’re told!
The prudent carefully consider their steps.
16 The wise are cautious[a] and avoid danger;
fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence.
17 Short-tempered people do foolish things,
and schemers are hated.
18 Simpletons are clothed with foolishness,[b]
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 Evil people will bow before good people;
the wicked will bow at the gates of the godly.
20 The poor are despised even by their neighbors,
while the rich have many “friends.”
21 It is a sin to belittle one’s neighbor;
blessed are those who help the poor.
22 If you plan to do evil, you will be lost;
if you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love and faithfulness.
23 Work brings profit,
but mere talk leads to poverty!
24 Wealth is a crown for the wise;
the effort of fools yields only foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but a false witness is a traitor.
26 Those who fear the Lord are secure;
he will be a refuge for their children.
27 Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain;
it offers escape from the snares of death.
28 A growing population is a king’s glory;
a prince without subjects has nothing.
29 People with understanding control their anger;
a hot temper shows great foolishness.
30 A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body;
jealousy is like cancer in the bones.
31 Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker,
but helping the poor honors him.
32 The wicked are crushed by disaster,
but the godly have a refuge when they die.
33 Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart;
wisdom is not[c] found among fools.
34 Godliness makes a nation great,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 A king rejoices in wise servants
but is angry with those who disgrace him.
Proverbs 14
Living Bible
14 A wise woman builds her house, while a foolish woman tears hers down by her own efforts.
2 To do right honors God; to sin is to despise him.
3 A rebel’s foolish talk should prick his own pride! But the wise man’s speech is respected.
4 An empty stable stays clean—but there is no income from an empty stable.
5 A truthful witness never lies; a false witness always lies.
6 A mocker never finds the wisdom he claims he is looking for, yet it comes easily to the man with common sense.
7 If you are looking for advice, stay away from fools.
8 The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and won’t face facts.
9 The common bond of rebels is their guilt.[a] The common bond of godly people is goodwill.
10 Only the person involved can know his own bitterness or joy—no one else can really share it.
11 The work of the wicked will perish; the work of the godly will flourish.
12 Before every man there lies a wide and pleasant road that seems right but ends in death.
13 Laughter cannot mask a heavy heart. When the laughter ends, the grief remains.
14 The backslider gets bored with himself; the godly man’s life is exciting.
15 Only a simpleton believes everything he’s told! A prudent man understands the need for proof.
16 A wise man is cautious and avoids danger; a fool plunges ahead with great confidence.
17 A short-tempered man is a fool. He hates the man who is patient.
18 The simpleton is crowned with folly; the wise man is crowned with knowledge.
19 Evil men shall bow before the godly.
20-21 Even his own neighbors despise the poor man, while the rich have many “friends.” But to despise the poor is to sin. Blessed are those who help them.
22 Those who plot evil shall wander away and be lost, but those who plan good shall be granted mercy and quietness.
23 Work brings profit; talk brings poverty!
24 Wise men are praised for their wisdom; fools are despised for their folly.
25 A witness who tells the truth saves good men from being sentenced to death, but a false witness is a traitor.
26 Reverence for God gives a man deep strength; his children have a place of refuge and security.
27 Reverence for the Lord is a fountain of life; its waters keep a man from death.
28 A growing population is a king’s glory; a dwindling nation is his doom.
29 A wise man controls his temper. He knows that anger causes mistakes.
30 A relaxed attitude lengthens a man’s life; jealousy rots it away.
31 Anyone who oppresses the poor is insulting God who made them. To help the poor is to honor God.
32 The godly have a refuge when they die, but the wicked are crushed by their sins.
33 Wisdom is enshrined in the hearts of men of common sense, but it must shout loudly before fools will hear it.
34 Godliness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 A king rejoices in servants who know what they are doing; he is angry with those who cause trouble.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:9 The common bond of rebels is their guilt, or “Fools make a mock at sin.” The Hebrew is obscure.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.