Proverbs 14
Expanded Bible
14 A wise woman ·strengthens her family [builds her house],
but a foolish woman ·destroys hers by what she does [tears hers down with her own hands].
2 People who ·live good lives [walk in virtue/integrity] ·respect [fear] the Lord,
but those who ·live evil lives don’t [L go the wrong way on their paths despise him].
3 ·Fools will be punished for their proud words [The talk of fools is a rod for their back; or In the mouth of fools is a sprig of pride],
but the ·words [L lips] of the wise will protect them.
4 When there are no oxen, ·no food is in the barn [or the barn is empty].
But with a strong ox, much grain can be grown.
5 A truthful witness does not lie,
but a false witness tells nothing but lies.
6 ·Those who make fun of wisdom look for it [Mockers seek wisdom] and do not find it,
but knowledge comes ·easily [or quickly] to those with understanding.
7 Stay away from fools,
because they ·can’t teach you anything [L don’t have knowledgeable lips].
8 The wisdom of a ·wise [prudent] person will understand ·what to do [L his path],
but the folly of a foolish person is ·dishonest [deceptive].
9 Fools ·don’t care if they sin [L mock a penalty/guilt/reparation offering; Lev. 5:14—6:7],
but ·honest people work at being right [those with integrity/virtue are favored].
10 ·No one else can know your sadness [L A heart knows its emotional distress],
and strangers cannot share your joy.
11 The wicked person’s house will be ·destroyed [annihilated],
but a good person’s tent will ·still be standing [flourish].
12 ·Some people think they are doing right [L There is a path that seems straight to a person],
but in the end it ·leads [L is the path] to death.
13 ·Someone who is laughing may be sad inside [L Even in laughter the heart may feel pain],
and joy may end in sadness.
14 ·Evil people [L Rebellious hearts] will be paid back for their evil ·ways [paths],
and good people will be rewarded for their ·good ones [deeds].
15 ·Fools [The naive] will believe anything,
but the ·wise [prudent] ·think about what they do [understand their steps].
16 Wise people ·are careful [fear] and stay ·out of trouble [away from evil],
but fools ·are careless [or get mad] and ·quick to act [or feel safe].
17 Someone with a quick temper ·does foolish things [makes stupid mistakes],
but ·someone with understanding remains calm [or schemers are hated].
18 ·Fools [Naive people] ·are rewarded with nothing but more foolishness [L inherit stupidity],
but the wise ·are rewarded with knowledge [L wear knowledge as an ornament].
19 Evil people will bow down to those who are good;
the wicked will bow down at the ·door of those who do right [L gates of the righteous].
20 The poor are ·rejected [hated], even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends [C perhaps an ironic reference to fair-weather friends].
21 It is a sin to ·hate [despise] your neighbor,
but being ·kind [gracious] to the needy brings ·happiness [a blessing].
22 ·Those [L Do not those…?] who make evil plans ·will be ruined [L wander aimlessly],
but those who plan to do good will ·be loved and trusted [receive loyalty and faithfulness].
23 Those who work hard make a profit,
but ·those who only talk will be poor [L the word of the lips leads only to lack].
24 Wise people are ·rewarded [crowned] with wealth,
but fools only get more foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but a ·false witness is a traitor [deceptive person proclaims lies].
26 Those who ·respect [fear] the Lord will have ·security [or confidence],
and their children will ·be protected [have a refuge].
27 ·Respect for [Fear of] the Lord ·gives life [L is a fountain of life]
·and can save people from death [L turning people aside from death traps/snares].
28 A king is honored when he has many people to rule,
but a prince is ruined if he has none.
29 ·Patient people have great [Patience leads to] understanding,
but ·people with quick tempers show their foolishness [impatience leads to stupid mistakes].
30 ·Peace of mind [L A healthy mind/heart] means a healthy body,
but jealousy will rot your bones.
31 Whoever ·mistreats [oppresses] the poor insults their Maker,
but whoever ·is kind [shows grace] to the needy honors God.
32 The wicked are ·ruined [thrown down] by their own evil,
but those who ·do right [are righteous] ·are protected [find refuge] even in death.
33 Wisdom lives in ·those with understanding [an understanding heart/mind],
and ·even fools recognize it [or it is not known in the innards of a fool].
34 ·Doing what is right [Righteousness] makes a nation great,
but sin will ·bring disgrace to any [diminish a] people.
35 A king is pleased with a ·wise [insightful] servant,
but he will become angry with one who causes him shame.
Proverbs 14
Common English Bible
14 A wise woman builds her house,
while a foolish woman tears hers down with her own hands.
2 Those who walk with integrity fear the Lord,
but those who take a crooked path despise him.
3 Pride sprouts in the mouth of a fool,[a]
but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 When there are no oxen, the stall is clean,
but when there is a strong bull, there is abundant produce.
5 A truthful witness doesn’t lie,
but a false witness spews lies.
6 A mocker searches for wisdom and gets none,
but knowledge comes quickly to the intelligent.
7 Stay away from fools,
for you won’t learn wise speech there.
8 By their wisdom the prudent understand their way,
but the stupidity of fools deceives them.
9 Fools mock a compensation offering,
but favor is with those who do right.
10 The heart knows its own distress;
another person can’t share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked is destroyed,
but the tent flourishes for those who do right.
12 There is a path that may seem straight to someone,
but in the end it is a path to death.
13 The heart feels pain even in laughter,
and in the end, joy turns to sorrow.
14 Rebellious hearts receive satisfaction from their ways;
the good receive the due reward for their deeds.
15 The naive believe anything,
but the prudent give thought to their steps.
16 The wise are careful and avoid evil,
but fools become excited and overconfident.
17 Short-tempered people make stupid mistakes,
and schemers are hated.
18 Stupidity is the lot of the naive,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 Evil people will bow down before the good;
wicked people are at the gates of the righteous.
20 Even their neighbors hate the poor,
but many love the wealthy.
21 Those who despise their neighbors are sinners,
but happy are those who are kind to the needy.
22 Don’t those who plan evil go astray?
Those who plan good receive loyalty and faithfulness.
23 There is profit in hard work,
but mere talk leads to poverty.
24 Wealth is the crown of the wise,
and the folly of fools is folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but a deceiver proclaims lies.
26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence
and refuge for one’s children.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning people away from deathtraps.
28 A king’s glory is a large population,
but a dwindling people is a ruler’s ruin.
29 Patience leads to abundant understanding,
but impatience leads to stupid mistakes.
30 A peaceful mind gives life to the body,
but jealousy rots the bones.
31 Those who exploit the powerless anger their maker,
while those who are kind to the poor honor God.
32 The wicked are thrown down by their own evil,
but the righteous find refuge even in death.
33 Wisdom resides in an understanding heart,
but it’s not[b] known in fools.
34 Righteousness dignifies a nation,
but sin disgraces a people.
35 The king favors an insightful servant,
but is furious at a shameful one.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:3 Heb uncertain
- Proverbs 14:33 LXX; MT lacks not.
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Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible