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Proverbs 14
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Proverbs 14
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 14
1 Wisdom builds her house,
but Folly tears hers down with her own hands.[a]
2 Those who walk uprightly fear the Lord,
but those who are devious in their ways spurn him.
3 In the mouth of the fool is a rod for pride,
but the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the crib is clean;
but abundant crops come through the strength of the bull.[b]
5 A trustworthy witness does not lie,
but one who spouts lies makes a lying witness.[c](A)
6 The scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge is easy for the intelligent.
7 Go from the face of the fool;
you get no knowledge from such lips.
8 The wisdom of the shrewd enlightens their way,
but the folly of fools is deceit.[d]
9 The wicked scorn a guilt offering,
but the upright find acceptance.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and its joy no stranger shares.[e]
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.[f](B)
12 Sometimes a way seems right,
but the end of it leads to death!(C)
13 Even in laughter the heart may be sad,
and the end of joy may be sorrow.
14 From their own ways turncoats are sated,
from their own actions, the loyal.
15 The naive believe everything,
but the shrewd watch their steps.[g]
16 The wise person is cautious and turns from evil;
the fool is reckless and gets embroiled.
17 The quick-tempered make fools of themselves,
and schemers are hated.
18 The simple have folly as an adornment,
but the shrewd wear knowledge as a crown.[h]
19 The malicious bow down before the good,
and the wicked, at the gates of the just.
20 Even by their neighbors the poor are despised,
but a rich person’s friends are many.(D)
21 Whoever despises the hungry comes up short,
but happy the one who is kind to the poor![i]
22 Do not those who plan evil go astray?
But those who plan good win steadfast loyalty.
23 In all labor there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to loss.
24 The crown of the wise is wealth;
the diadem of fools is folly.
25 The truthful witness saves lives,
but whoever utters lies is a betrayer.
26 The fear of the Lord is a strong defense,
a refuge even for one’s children.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning one from the snares of death.
28 A multitude of subjects is the glory of the king;
but if his people are few, a prince is ruined.
29 Long-suffering results in great wisdom;
a short temper raises folly high.[j](E)
30 A tranquil mind gives life to the body,
but jealousy rots the bones.
31 Those who oppress the poor revile their Maker,
but those who are kind to the needy honor him.(F)
32 The wicked are overthrown by their wickedness,
but the just find a refuge in their integrity.
33 Wisdom can remain silent in the discerning heart,
but among fools she must make herself known.[k](G)
34 Justice exalts a nation,
but sin is a people’s disgrace.[l]
35 The king favors the skillful servant,
but the shameless one incurs his wrath.
Footnotes
- 14:1 The relationship between Wisdom, personified as a woman, and building a house is a constant theme. As elsewhere, the book here warns against the wrong woman and praises the right woman.
- 14:4 If one has no animals, one does not have the burden of keeping the crib full, but without them one will have no crops to fill the barn. Colon B reverses the sense of colon A and also reverses the consonants of bar (“clean”) to rab (“abundant”).
- 14:5 On discerning the truthfulness of witnesses; see 12:17.
- 14:8 Wisdom enables the shrewd to know their path is right but folly leads fools on the wrong path (“deceit”), which calls down retribution.
- 14:10 The heart in Proverbs is where a person’s sense impressions are stored and reflected upon. It is thus one’s most personal and individual part. One’s sorrows and joys (= the full range of emotions) cannot be shared fully with another. Verse 13 expresses the same individuality of the human person.
- 14:11 The traditional fixed pair “house” and “tent” is used to express the paradox that a house can be less secure than a tent if there is no justice.
- 14:15 The naive gullibly rely on others’ words whereas the shrewd watch their own steps.
- 14:18 The inner quality of a person, simple or wise, will eventually be revealed.
- 14:21 The paradox is that anyone who spurns the hungry will lack something, but anyone who shows mercy (presumably by giving to the poor) will gain prosperity.
- 14:29 A series of puns on short and long; lit., “long of nostrils (idiom for “patient”), large in wisdom, / short in breath (idiom for “impatient”), makes folly tall.”
- 14:33 Wisdom can remain silent in a wise person as a welcome friend. But it must speak out among fools, for the dissonance is so strong.
- 14:34 The rare noun “disgrace” occurs elsewhere only in Lv 20:17. In measuring the greatness of a nation, one is tempted to consider territory, wealth, history, but the most important criterion is its relationship to God (“justice”).
Proverbs 14
English Standard Version
Proverbs 14
English Standard Version
14 (A)The wisest of women (B)builds her house,
but folly with her own hands (C)tears it down.
2 Whoever (D)walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
but he who is (E)devious in his ways despises him.
3 By the mouth of a fool comes (F)a rod for his back,[a]
(G)but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5 (H)A faithful witness does not lie,
but (I)a false witness breathes out lies.
6 (J)A scoffer seeks wisdom (K)in vain,
but (L)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 the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools is deceiving.
9 (M)Fools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance.[b]
10 The heart knows its own (N)bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.
11 (O)The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 (P)There is a way that seems right to a man,
but (Q)its end is the way to death.[c]
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and (R)the end of joy may be (S)grief.
14 The backslider in heart will be (T)filled with the fruit of his ways,
and (U)a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
15 (V)The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
16 (W)One who is wise is cautious[d] and (X)turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
17 A man of (Y)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 (Z)The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 (AA)The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
(AB)but the rich has many friends.
21 Whoever (AC)despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but (AD)blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22 Do they not go astray who (AE)devise evil?
Those who devise good meet[e] (AF)steadfast love and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk (AG)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 (AH)breathes out lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord one has (AI)strong confidence,
and (AJ)his children will have (AK)a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is (AL)a fountain of life,
that one may (AM)turn away from the snares of death.
28 In (AN)a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
but without people a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is (AO)slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30 A tranquil[f] heart gives (AP)life to the flesh,
but (AQ)envy[g] makes (AR)the bones rot.
31 Whoever oppresses a poor man (AS)insults his (AT)Maker,
(AU)but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
32 (AV)The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
but (AW)the righteous finds refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom (AX)rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.[h]
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 A servant who deals wisely has (AY)the king's favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:3 Or In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride
- Proverbs 14:9 Hebrew but among the upright is acceptance
- Proverbs 14:12 Hebrew ways of death
- 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
箴言 14
Revised Chinese Union Version (Traditional Script) Shen Edition
箴言 14
Revised Chinese Union Version (Traditional Script) Shen Edition
14 婦人的智慧建立家室；
愚昧卻親手拆毀它[a]。
2 行事正直的，敬畏耶和華；
偏離正路的，卻藐視他。
3 在愚妄人的口中有驕傲的杖；
智慧人的嘴唇必保護自己。
4 沒有牛，槽就空空；
土產豐盛卻憑牛的力氣。
5 誠實的證人不說謊；
虛假的證人口吐謊言。
6 傲慢人枉尋智慧；
聰明人易得知識。
7 不要到愚昧人面前，
你無法從他嘴唇裏知道知識。
8 通達人的智慧使他認清自己的道路；
愚昧人的愚昧卻是自欺。
9 愚妄人嘲笑贖愆祭[b]；
但正直人蒙悅納。
10 心中的苦楚，只有自己知道；
心裏的喜樂，陌生人無法分享。
11 惡人的房屋必倒塌；
正直人的帳棚必興旺。
12 有一條路，人以為正，
至終成為死亡之路。
13 人在喜笑中，心也會憂愁；
快樂的終點就是愁苦。
14 心中背道的，必滿嘗其果；
善人必從自己的行為得到回報。
15 無知的人甚麼話都信；
通達人謹慎自己的腳步。
16 智慧人有所懼怕，就遠離惡事；
愚昧人卻狂傲自恃。
17 輕易發怒的，行事愚昧；
擅長詭計的，被人恨惡。
18 愚蒙人承受愚昧為產業；
通達人得知識為冠冕。
19 壞人在善人面前俯伏；
惡人在義人門口也是如此。
20 窮乏人，連鄰舍也恨他；
有錢人，愛他的人眾多。
21 藐視鄰舍的，這人有罪；
施恩給困苦人的，這人有福。
22 謀惡的，豈非走入迷途？
謀善的，有慈愛和誠實。
23 任何勤勞總有收穫；
僅耍嘴皮必致窮乏。
24 智慧人的冠冕是富有智慧；
愚昧人的愚昧終究是愚昧。
25 誠實作證，救人性命；
口吐謊言是詭詐。
26 敬畏耶和華的，大有倚靠；
他的兒女也有避難所。
27 敬畏耶和華是生命的泉源，
使人離開死亡的圈套。
28 君王的榮耀在乎民多；
沒有百姓，王就衰敗。
29 不輕易發怒的，大有聰明；
性情暴躁的，大顯愚昧。
30 平靜的心使肉體有生氣；
嫉妒使骨頭朽爛。
31 欺壓貧寒人的，是蔑視造他的主；
憐憫貧窮人的，是尊敬主。
32 惡人因所行的惡必被推倒；
義人臨死[c]，有所投靠。
33 智慧安居在聰明人的心中，
在愚昧人的心中卻不認識[d]。
34 公義使邦國高舉；
罪惡是百姓的羞辱。
35 君王的恩寵臨到智慧的臣僕；
但其憤怒臨到蒙羞的臣僕。
Proverbs 14
King James Version
Proverbs 14
King James Version
14 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 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.
Proverbs 14
New International Version
Proverbs 14
New International Version
14 The wise woman builds her house,(A)
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
2 Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
but those who despise him are devious in their ways.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
but from the strength of an ox(D) come abundant harvests.
5 An honest witness does not deceive,
but a false witness pours out lies.(E)
6 The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.(F)
7 Stay away from a fool,
for you will not find knowledge on their lips.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,(G)
but the folly of fools is deception.(H)
9 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.
13 Even in laughter(M) the heart may ache,
and rejoicing may end in grief.
15 The simple believe anything,
but the prudent give thought to their steps.(P)
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)
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)
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
- Proverbs 14:22 Or show
- Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Revised Chinese Union Version (Traditional Script) Shen Edition (RCU17TS)
和合本修訂版經文 © 2006, 2010, 2017 香港聖經公會。蒙允許使用。 Scripture Text of Revised Chinese Union Version © 2006, 2010, 2017 Hong Kong Bible Society. www.hkbs.org.hk/en/ Used by permission.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.