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14 A wise woman strengthens her family.
    But a foolish woman destroys hers by what she does.

People who live good lives show respect for the Lord.
    But those who live evil lives show no respect for him.

A foolish person will be punished for his proud words.
    But a wise person’s words will protect him.

When there are no oxen, there is no food in the barn.
    But with the strength of an ox, much grain can be grown.

A truthful witness does not lie.
    But a false witness tells nothing but lies.

Those who make fun of wisdom look for it but do not find it.
    But the person with understanding easily finds knowledge.

Stay away from a foolish person.
    You won’t learn anything from him.

What makes a person wise is understanding what to do.
    But what makes a person foolish is dishonesty.

Foolish people don’t care if they sin.
    But honest people work at being right with others.

10 No one else can know your sadness.
    Strangers cannot share your joy.

11 The wicked person’s house will be destroyed.
    But a good person’s tent will still be standing.

12 Some people think they are doing what’s right.
    But what they are doing will really kill them.

13 When someone is laughing, he may be sad inside.
    And when the laughter is over, there is sorrow.

14 Evil people will be paid back for their evil ways.
    And good people will be rewarded for their good ones.

15 A foolish person will believe anything.
    But a wise person thinks about what he does.

16 A wise person is careful and stays out of trouble.
    But a foolish person is quick to act and careless.

17 A person who quickly loses his temper does foolish things.
    But a person with understanding remains calm.

18 Foolish people get nothing for their work but more foolishness.
    But wise people are rewarded with knowledge.

19 Evil people will have to bow down to good people.
    The wicked will bow down at the door of those who do right.

20 The poor are rejected, even by their neighbors.
    But rich people have many friends.

21 It is a sin to hate your neighbor.
    But being kind to the needy brings happiness.

22 Those who make evil plans will be ruined.
    But people love and trust those who plan to do good.

23 Those who work hard make a profit.
    But those who only talk will be poor.

24 Wise people are rewarded with wealth.
    But foolish people will only be rewarded with more foolishness.

25 A truthful witness saves lives.
    But a false witness is a traitor.

26 A person who respects the Lord will have security.
    And his children will be protected.

27 Respect for the Lord gives life.
    It is like a fountain of water that can save people from death.

28 A king is honored when he has many people to rule.
    But a prince is ruined if he has none.

29 A person who does not quickly get angry shows that he has understanding.
    But a person who quickly loses his temper shows his foolishness.

30 Peace of mind means a healthy body.
    But jealousy will rot your bones.

31 Whoever is cruel to the poor insults their Maker.
    But anyone who is kind to the needy honors God.

32 The wicked are ruined by their own evil.
    But those who do what is right are protected by their honesty.

33 The person who has understanding has wisdom.
    And even fools recognize it.

34 Doing what is right makes a nation great.
    But sin will bring disgrace to any people.

35 A king is pleased with a wise servant.
    But he will become angry with one who causes him shame.

14 Every wise woman builds her house,(A)
but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.(B)

Whoever lives with integrity fears the Lord,(C)
but the one who is devious in his ways despises him.(D)

The proud speech of a fool brings a rod of discipline,[a]
but the lips of the wise protect them.(E)

Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty,[b]
but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of an ox.

An honest witness does not deceive,
but a dishonest witness utters lies.(F)

A mocker seeks wisdom and doesn’t find it,
but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive.

Stay away from a foolish person;
you will gain no knowledge from his speech.(G)

The sensible person’s wisdom is to consider his way,
but the stupidity of fools deceives them.

Fools mock at making reparation,[c]
but there is goodwill among the upright.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no outsider shares in its joy.

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

12 There is a way that seems right to a person,(I)
but its end is the way to death.(J)

13 Even in laughter a heart may be sad,
and joy may end in grief.(K)

14 The disloyal one will get what his conduct deserves,
and a good one, what his deeds deserve.(L)

15 The inexperienced one believes anything,(M)
but the sensible one watches[d] his steps.

16 A wise person is cautious and turns from evil,(N)
but a fool is easily angered and is careless.[e]

17 A quick-tempered person acts foolishly,
and one who schemes is hated.(O)

18 The inexperienced inherit foolishness,
but the sensible are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil bow before those who are good,
and the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.

20 A poor person is hated even by his neighbor,(P)
but there are many who love the rich.(Q)

21 The one who despises his neighbor sins,(R)
but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.(S)

22 Don’t those who plan evil go astray?(T)
But those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.(U)

23 There is profit in all hard work,
but endless talk[f] leads only to poverty.(V)

24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the foolishness of fools produces foolishness.

25 A truthful witness rescues lives,
but one who utters lies is deceitful.(W)

26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence
and his children have a refuge.(X)

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning people away from the snares of death.(Y)

28 A large population is a king’s splendor,
but a shortage of people is a ruler’s devastation.

29 A patient person shows great understanding,(Z)
but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.

30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,(AA)
but jealousy is rottenness to the bones.(AB)

31 The one who oppresses the poor person insults his Maker,(AC)
but one who is kind to the needy honors him.(AD)

32 The wicked one is thrown down by his own sin,(AE)
but the righteous one has a refuge in his death.(AF)

33 Wisdom resides in the heart of the discerning;(AG)
she is known[g] even among fools.

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.(AH)

35 A king favors a prudent servant,(AI)
but his anger falls on a disgraceful one.

Footnotes

  1. 14:3 Some emend to In the mouth of a fool is a rod for his back
  2. 14:4 Or clean
  3. 14:9 Or at guilt offerings
  4. 14:15 Lit the prudent understands
  5. 14:16 Or and falls
  6. 14:23 Lit but word of lips
  7. 14:33 LXX reads unknown

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