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Wisdom Builds Up, Folly Tears Down

14 A wise woman builds her house,
but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
The one who walks uprightly fears Adonai,
but one devious in his ways despises Him.
In the mouth of a fool is a rod for his back,
but the lips of the wise protect them.

Where there are no oxen, the stalls are clean,
but from the strength of the ox comes an abundant harvest.

A trustworthy witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes out lies.

A scoffer seeks wisdom yet finds none,
but knowledge is easy to the discerning.
Walk away from a fool—
for you will find no knowledge on his lips.
The wisdom of the prudent is to consider his way,
but the folly of fools is deception.
Fools mock guilt of sin,
but among the upright is goodwill.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no one else can share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be demolished,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.

13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and the end of joy may be grief.

14 A backsliding heart partakes of its ways,
and a good man is rewarded for his.

15 The naïve believes every word,
but the shrewd discerns his steps.
16 The wise fears and turns away from evil,
but the fool is hotheaded and reckless.
17 One with a short temper acts foolishly,
and one with crafty schemes is hated.
18 The naïve inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 Evil men will bow in the presence of the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

Poverty and Riches

20 The poor is hated even by his neighbor,
but many are those who love the rich.
21 Whoever despises his neighbor sins,
but whoever is gracious to the needy is blessed.
22 Indeed those who plot evil go astray
but grace and truth come to those who plan good.
23 In all hard work there is profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
but the folly of fools is foolishness.

25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who utters lies is treacherous.
26 In the fear of Adonai one has strong confidence.
It will be a refuge for His children.
27 The fear of Adonai is a fountain of life,
turning one from the snares of death.

28 A large population is a king’s glory,
but lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.

29 One who is slow to anger shows great understanding,
but a quick-tempered one exalts folly.
30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,
but envy is rottenness to the bones.

31 The one who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.

32 The wicked is brought down in his calamity
yet the righteous has a refuge even in death.

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning,
and even among fools she is known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king shows favor toward a servant who acts wisely,
but his wrath is on one who is disgraceful.

14 The wise woman builds her house,(A)
    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
    but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,(B)
    but the lips of the wise protect them.(C)

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
    but from the strength of an ox(D) come abundant harvests.

An honest witness does not deceive,
    but a false witness pours out lies.(E)

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.(F)

Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,(G)
    but the folly of fools is deception.(H)

Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,(I)
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.(J)

12 There is a way that appears to be right,(K)
    but in the end it leads to death.(L)

13 Even in laughter(M) the heart may ache,
    and rejoicing may end in grief.

14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,(N)
    and the good rewarded for theirs.(O)

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

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

17 A quick-tempered person(S) does foolish things,(T)
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.(U)

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.(V)

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

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

22 Do not those who plot evil go astray?(Z)
    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.(AA)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

28 In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

35 The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.