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
Proverbs 14
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
14 A wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish will pull down with her hands that also which is built.
2 He that walketh in the right way, and feareth God, Cis despised by him that goeth by an infamous way.
3 In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride: but the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the crib is empty: but where there is much corn, there the strength of the ox is manifest.
5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a deceitful witness uttereth a lie.
6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: the learning of the wise is easy.
7 Go against a foolish man, and he knoweth not the lips of prudence.
8 The wisdom of a. discreet man is to understand his way: and the imprudence of fools erreth.
9 A fool will laugh at sin, but among the just grace shall abide.
10 The heart that knoweth the bitterness of his own soul, in his joy the stranger shall not intermeddle.
11 The house of the wicked shall be destroyed: but the tabernacles of the just shall flourish.
12 There is a way which seemeth just to a man: but the ends thereof lead to death.
13 Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning taketh hold of the end of joy.
14 A fool shall be filled with his own ways, and the good man shall be above him.
15 The innocent believeth every word: the discreet man considereth his steps. No good shall come to the deceitful son: but the wise servant shall prosper in his dealings, and his way shall be made straight.
16 A wise man feareth and declineth from evil: the fool leapeth over and is confident.
17 The impatient man shall work folly: and the crafty man is hateful.
18 The childish shall possess folly, and the prudent, shall look for knowledge.
19 The evil shall fall down before the good: and the wicked before the gates of the just.
20 The poor man shall be hateful even to his own neighbour: but the friends of the rich are many.
21 He that despiseth his neighbour, sinneth: but he that sheweth mercy to the poor, shall be blessed. He that believeth in the Lord, loveth mercy.
22 They err that work evil: but mercy and truth prepare good things.
23 In much work there shall be abundance: but where there are many words, there is oftentimes want.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches: the folly of fools, imprudence.
25 A faithful witness delivereth souls: and the double dealer uttereth lies.
26 In the fear of the Lord is confidence of strength, and there shall be hope for his children.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to decline from the ruin of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the dignity of the king: and in the small number of people the dishonour of the prince.
29 He that is patient, is governed with much wisdom: but he that is impatient, exalteth his folly.
30 Soundness of heart is the life of the flesh: but envy is the rottenness of the bones.
31 He that oppresseth the poor, upbraideth his Maker: but he that hath pity on the poor, honoureth him.
32 The wicked man shall be driven out in his wickedness: but the just hath hope in his death.
33 In the heart of the prudent resteth wisdom, and it shall instruct all the ignorant.
34 Justice exalteth a nation: but sin maketh nations miserable.
35 A wise servant is acceptable to the king: he that is good for nothing shall feel his anger.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)