Proverbs 14

The Voice

14 A wise woman builds her house,
    but a foolish one picks it to splinters with her own hands.
² Whoever travels through life with integrity respects the Eternal,
    but whoever turns from it hates Him.
³ A fool’s words betray his pride and invite punishment,
    but the humble speech of the wise will spare them.
⁴ A farm without oxen has a manger without grain;
    there’s a good return in the strength of an ox.
⁵ An honest witness can always be trusted,
    but a false witness breathes out nothing but lies.
⁶ Wisdom eludes mockers, though they seek it,
    but insight comes quickly to those with understanding.
⁷ Walk away from the company of fools,
    for you cannot find insight in their words.
⁸ It takes wisdom for the clever to understand the path they are on,
    but the fool is deceived by his own foolishness.
⁹ Fools make a mockery of guilt and repentance,
    but those who do what is right receive special standing.^[a]
10 Only the heart can know its own resentment;
    likewise no stranger can experience its joy.
¹¹ The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
    while the tent of the upright will prosper.
¹² Before every person lies a road that seems to be right,
    but the end of that road is death and destruction.
¹³ Laughter can mask heartache,
    and joy often gives way to grief.
¹⁴ A disloyal heart has its fill of disloyal ways,
    but a good person will be satisfied from above.
¹⁵ The gullible believe anything they are told,
    but clever people know to question every step.
¹⁶ The wise are cautious and stay far from evil,
    but fools are hotheaded and careless.
¹⁷ Quick-tempered people make fools of themselves,
    and evil schemers make many enemies.
¹⁸ The naive are heirs to foolishness,
    but the clever are honored with insight.
¹⁹ Evil people will be humbled before the good;
    the wicked will stoop at the doorstep of the righteous.
²⁰ The poor are hated even by their own neighbors,
    but the rich are loved by many friends.
²¹ Those who have contempt for their neighbors are sinners,
    but those who are kind to the poor are happy.
²² Don’t those who work evil stray from the truth?
    Those who plan goodness experience unfailing love and faithfulness.
²³ Prosperity comes from hard work,
    but talking too much leads to great scarcity.
²⁴ The wise are honored for their wealth;
    the reward of fools is more foolishness.
²⁵ A truthful witness protects lives by not allowing evil to triumph,
    but a deceitful witness speaks lies and puts the innocent in jeopardy.
²⁶ Reverence for the Eternal brings bold confidence,
    and one’s offspring will have hope of protection.
²⁷ Respect and honor for Him is the basis of a satisfied life,
    which guards a person from being trapped in the snares of death.
²⁸ A king’s splendor is in his many people,
    but a declining population will lead to his ruin.
²⁹ Whoever is patient and slow to anger shows great understanding,
    but whoever has a quick temper magnifies his foolishness.
³⁰ A serene heart can add years to one’s life;
    but jealous passion rots the bones.

³¹ Whoever oppresses the poor insults his Maker,
    but anyone who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
³² The wicked are waylaid by their evil actions,
    but the right-living find hope’s sanctuary even in their death.^[b]
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one with insight
    and can even be experienced by fools.
³⁴ Living according to God’s instructions makes a nation great,
    but sin colors those who commit it with disgrace.
³⁵ The king shows kindness to a servant who acts wisely,
    but his anger burns toward one who brings shame.