Proverbs 14

Revised Standard Version

14 Wisdom^[a] builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down.
² He who walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
    but he who is devious in his ways despises him.
³ The talk of a fool is a rod for his back,^[b]
    but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
⁴ Where there are no oxen, there is no^[c] grain;
    but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
⁵ A faithful witness does not lie,
    but a false witness breathes out lies.
⁶ A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
    but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
⁷ Leave the presence of a fool,
    for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
⁸ The wisdom of a prudent man is to discern his way,
    but the folly of fools is deceiving.
⁹ God scorns the wicked,^[d]
    but the upright enjoy his favor.
¹⁰ The heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no stranger shares its joy.
¹¹ The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.
¹² There is a way which seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.^[e]
13 Even in laughter the heart is sad,
    and the end of joy is grief.
¹⁴ A perverse man will be filled with the fruit of his ways,
    and a good man with the fruit of his deeds.^[f]
15 The simple believes everything,
    but the prudent looks where he is going.
¹⁶ A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil,
    but a fool throws off restraint and is careless.
¹⁷ A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
    but a man of discretion is patient.^[g]
18 The simple acquire folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
¹⁹ The evil bow down before the good,
    the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
²⁰ The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
    but the rich has many friends.
²¹ He who despises his neighbor is a sinner,
    but happy is he who is kind to the poor.
²² Do they not err that devise evil?
    Those who devise good meet loyalty and faithfulness.
²³ In all toil there is profit,
    but mere talk tends only to want.
²⁴ The crown of the wise is their wisdom,^[h]
    but folly is the garland^[i] of fools.
²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives,
    but one who utters lies is a betrayer.
²⁶ In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,
    and his children will have a refuge.
²⁷ The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
    that one may avoid the snares of death.
²⁸ In a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
    but without people a prince is ruined.
²⁹ He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
³⁰ A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh,
    but passion makes the bones rot.
³¹ He who oppresses a poor man insults his Maker,
    but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
³² The wicked is overthrown through his evil-doing,
    but the righteous finds refuge through his integrity.^[j]
33 Wisdom abides in the mind of a man of understanding,
    but it is not^[k] known in the heart of fools.
³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation,
    but sin is a reproach to any people.
³⁵ A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor,
    but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.