Proverbs 14:13-18:24
English Standard Version
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and (A)the end of joy may be (B)grief.
14 The backslider in heart will be (C)filled with the fruit of his ways,
and (D)a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
15 (E)The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
16 (F)One who is wise is cautious[a] and (G)turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
17 A man of (H)quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 (I)The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 (J)The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
(K)but the rich has many friends.
21 Whoever (L)despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but (M)blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22 Do they not go astray who (N)devise evil?
Those who devise good meet[b] (O)steadfast love and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk (P)tends only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the folly of fools brings folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who (Q)breathes out lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord one has (R)strong confidence,
and (S)his children will have (T)a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is (U)a fountain of life,
that one may (V)turn away from the snares of death.
28 In (W)a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
but without people a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is (X)slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30 A tranquil[c] heart gives (Y)life to the flesh,
but (Z)envy[d] makes (AA)the bones rot.
31 Whoever oppresses a poor man (AB)insults his (AC)Maker,
(AD)but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
32 (AE)The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
but (AF)the righteous finds refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom (AG)rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.[e]
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 A servant who deals wisely has (AH)the king's favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
15 (AI)A soft answer turns away wrath,
but (AJ)a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but (AK)the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3 (AL)The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 (AM)A gentle[f] tongue is (AN)a tree of life,
but (AO)perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5 (AP)A fool (AQ)despises his father's instruction,
but (AR)whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7 (AS)The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
(AT)not so the hearts of fools.[g]
8 (AU)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but (AV)the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves him (AW)who pursues righteousness.
10 There is (AX)severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
(AY)whoever hates reproof will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
how much more (AZ)the hearts of the children of man!
12 (BA)A scoffer (BB)does not like to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.
13 (BC)A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by (BD)sorrow of heart the spirit is (BE)crushed.
14 (BF)The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but (BG)the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16 (BH)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 (BI)Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than (BJ)a fattened ox and hatred with it.
18 (BK)A hot-tempered man (BL)stirs up strife,
but he who is (BM)slow to anger quiets contention.
19 The way of (BN)a sluggard is like a hedge of (BO)thorns,
but the path of the upright is (BP)a level highway.
20 (BQ)A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 (BR)Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
but a man of understanding (BS)walks straight ahead.
22 (BT)Without counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and (BU)a word in season, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads upward (BV)for the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
25 The Lord tears down the house of (BW)the proud
but (BX)maintains (BY)the widow's boundaries.
26 (BZ)The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
but (CA)gracious words are pure.
27 Whoever is (CB)greedy for unjust gain (CC)troubles his own household,
but he who hates (CD)bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous (CE)ponders how to answer,
but (CF)the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is (CG)far from the wicked,
but he (CH)hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 (CI)The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and (CJ)good news refreshes[h] the bones.
31 (CK)The ear that listens to (CL)life-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.
32 Whoever (CM)ignores instruction (CN)despises himself,
but he who listens to reproof (CO)gains intelligence.
33 (CP)The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and (CQ)humility comes before honor.
16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
but (CR)the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 (CS)All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord (CT)weighs the spirit.[i]
3 (CU)Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
4 (CV)The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even (CW)the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is (CX)an abomination to the Lord;
(CY)be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 By (CZ)steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by (DA)the fear of the Lord one (DB)turns away from evil.
7 When a man's ways please the Lord,
(DC)he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 (DD)Better is a little with righteousness
than great revenues with injustice.
9 (DE)The heart of man plans his way,
but (DF)the Lord establishes his steps.
10 (DG)An oracle is on the lips of a king;
his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11 (DH)A just balance and scales are the Lord's;
all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
for (DI)the throne is established by righteousness.
13 (DJ)Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
and he loves him who speaks what is right.
14 (DK)A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
and a wise man will (DL)appease it.
15 (DM)In the light of a king's face there is life,
and his (DN)favor is like (DO)the clouds that bring the spring rain.
16 (DP)How much better to get wisdom than (DQ)gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than (DR)silver.
17 The highway of the upright (DS)turns aside from evil;
whoever guards his way preserves his life.
18 (DT)Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 (DU)It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
than to (DV)divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Whoever gives thought to the word[j] (DW)will discover good,
and blessed is he (DX)who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of speech (DY)increases persuasiveness.
22 Good sense is (DZ)a fountain of life to him who has it,
but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 (EA)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 (EB)Gracious words are like (EC)a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and (ED)health to the body.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.[k]
26 A worker's appetite works for him;
his (EE)mouth urges him on.
27 (EF)A worthless man plots evil,
and his speech[l] is like (EG)a scorching fire.
28 (EH)A dishonest man spreads strife,
and (EI)a whisperer (EJ)separates close friends.
29 A man of violence (EK)entices his neighbor
and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 Whoever winks his eyes plans[m] (EL)dishonest things;
he who (EM)purses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 (EN)Gray hair is (EO)a crown of glory;
it (EP)is gained in a righteous life.
32 (EQ)Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 (ER)The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is (ES)from the Lord.
17 (ET)Better is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feasting[n] with strife.
2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over (EU)a son who acts shamefully
and (EV)will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 (EW)The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
(EX)and the Lord tests hearts.
4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor (EY)insults his Maker;
he who is (EZ)glad at calamity will not go (FA)unpunished.
6 (FB)Grandchildren are (FC)the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their fathers.
7 Fine speech is not (FD)becoming to a fool;
still less is (FE)false speech to a prince.
8 (FF)A bribe is like a magic[o] stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
wherever he turns he prospers.
9 Whoever (FG)covers an offense seeks love,
but he who repeats a matter (FH)separates close friends.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion,
and (FI)a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a man meet (FJ)a she-bear robbed of her cubs
(FK)rather than a fool in his folly.
13 If anyone (FL)returns evil for good,
(FM)evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
so (FN)quit before the quarrel breaks out.
15 He who (FO)justifies the wicked and he who (FP)condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why should a fool have money in his hand (FQ)to buy wisdom
when he has no sense?
17 (FR)A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
18 One who lacks sense gives a pledge
and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
he who (FS)makes his door high seeks destruction.
20 (FT)A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
21 He who (FU)sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 (FV)A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit (FW)dries up the bones.
23 The wicked accepts (FX)a bribe in secret[p]
to (FY)pervert the ways of justice.
24 (FZ)The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 (GA)A foolish son is a grief to his father
(GB)and bitterness to (GC)her who bore him.
26 (GD)To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 Whoever (GE)restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool (GF)who keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
18 Whoever (GG)isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.
2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only (GH)in expressing his opinion.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.
4 The words of a man's mouth are (GI)deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 It is not good to (GJ)be partial to[q] the wicked
or to (GK)deprive the righteous of justice.
6 A fool's lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites (GL)a beating.
7 (GM)A fool's mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 (GN)The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into (GO)the inner parts of the body.
9 Whoever is slack in his work
is a (GP)brother to him who destroys.
10 (GQ)The name of the Lord is (GR)a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and (GS)is safe.
11 (GT)A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination.
12 (GU)Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,
but (GV)humility comes before honor.
13 If one gives an answer (GW)before he hears,
it is his folly and shame.
14 A man's spirit will endure sickness,
but (GX)a crushed spirit who can bear?
15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man's (GY)gift makes room for him
and brings him before the great.
17 The one who states his case first seems right,
until the other comes and examines him.
18 (GZ)The lot puts an end to quarrels
and decides between powerful contenders.
19 A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
20 (HA)From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
21 (HB)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.
22 He who finds (HC)a wife finds (HD)a good thing
and (HE)obtains favor (HF)from the Lord.
23 The poor use entreaties,
but (HG)the rich answer roughly.
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but (HH)there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:16 Or fears [the Lord]
- Proverbs 14:22 Or show
- Proverbs 14:30 Or healing
- Proverbs 14:30 Or jealousy
- Proverbs 14:33 Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools
- Proverbs 15:4 Or healing
- Proverbs 15:7 Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast
- Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew makes fat
- Proverbs 16:2 Or spirits
- Proverbs 16:20 Or to a matter
- Proverbs 16:25 Hebrew ways of death
- Proverbs 16:27 Hebrew what is on his lips
- Proverbs 16:30 Hebrew to plan
- Proverbs 17:1 Hebrew sacrifices
- Proverbs 17:8 Or precious
- Proverbs 17:23 Hebrew a bribe from the bosom
- Proverbs 18:5 Hebrew to lift the face of
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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