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
Good News Translation
14 Homes are made by the wisdom of women, but are destroyed by foolishness.
2 Be honest and you show that you have reverence for the Lord; be dishonest and you show that you do not.
3 Proud fools talk too much; the words of the wise protect them.
4 Without any oxen to pull the plow your barn will be empty, but with them it will be full of grain.[a]
5 A reliable witness always tells the truth, but an unreliable one tells nothing but lies.
6 Conceited people can never become wise, but intelligent people learn easily.
7 Stay away from foolish people; they have nothing to teach you.
8 Why is a clever person wise? Because he knows what to do. Why is a stupid person foolish? Because he only thinks he knows.
9 Foolish people don't care if they sin, but good people want to be forgiven.[b]
10 Your joy is your own; your bitterness is your own. No one can share them with you.
11 A good person's house will still be standing after an evildoer's house has been destroyed.
12 (A)What you think is the right road may lead to death.
13 Laughter may hide sadness. When happiness is gone, sorrow is always there.
14 Bad people will get what they deserve. Good people will be rewarded for their deeds.[c]
15 A fool will believe anything; smart people watch their step.
16 Sensible people are careful to stay out of trouble, but stupid people are careless and act too quickly.
17 People with a hot temper do foolish things; wiser people remain calm.[d]
18 Ignorant people get what their foolishness deserves, but the clever are rewarded with knowledge.
19 Evil people will have to bow down to the righteous and humbly beg their favor.
20 No one likes the poor, not even their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.
21 If you want to be happy, be kind to the poor; it is a sin to despise anyone.
22 You will earn the trust and respect of others if you work for good; if you work for evil, you are making a mistake.
23 Work and you will earn a living; if you sit around talking you will be poor.
24 Wise people are rewarded with wealth, but fools are known by[e] their foolishness.
25 A witness saves lives when he tells the truth; when he tells lies, he betrays people.
26 Reverence for the Lord gives confidence and security to a man and his family.
27 Do you want to avoid death? Reverence for the Lord is a fountain of life.
28 A king's greatness depends on how many people he rules; without them he is nothing.
29 If you stay calm, you are wise, but if you have a hot temper, you only show how stupid you are.
30 Peace of mind makes the body healthy, but jealousy is like a cancer.
31 If you oppress poor people, you insult the God who made them; but kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship.
32 Wicked people bring about their own downfall by their evil deeds, but good people are protected by their integrity.[f]
33 Wisdom is in every thought of intelligent people; fools know nothing[g] about wisdom.
34 Righteousness makes a nation great; sin is a disgrace to any nation.
35 Kings are pleased with competent officials, but they punish those who fail them.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:4 your barn will be … grain; or you may grow a little grain, but with them you can grow much more.
- Proverbs 14:9 Verse 9 in Hebrew is unclear.
- Proverbs 14:14 Probable text for their deeds; Hebrew from upon them.
- Proverbs 14:17 One ancient translation remain calm; Hebrew are hated.
- Proverbs 14:24 Probable text are known by; Hebrew unclear.
- Proverbs 14:32 Some ancient translations integrity; Hebrew death.
- Proverbs 14:33 One ancient translation nothing; Hebrew does not have this word.
Proverbi 14
La Nuova Diodati
14 La donna saggia edifica la sua casa, ma la stolta la demolisce con le proprie mani.
2 Chi cammina nella sua rettitudine teme l'Eterno, ma chi è pervertito nelle sue vie lo disprezza.
3 Nella bocca dello stolto c'è il germoglio della superbia, ma le labbra dei saggi li custodiscono.
4 Dove non ci sono buoi la greppia è vuota, ma l'abbondanza del raccolto sta nella forza del bue.
5 Il testimone fedele non mentisce, ma il testimone falso proferisce menzogne.
6 Lo schernitore cerca la sapienza e non la trova, ma la conoscenza è cosa facile per chi ha intendimento.
7 Allontanati dall'uomo stolto perché non troverai conoscenza sulle sue labbra.
8 La sapienza dell'uomo prudente sta nel discernere la propria strada, ma la follia degli stolti è inganno.
9 Gli stolti ridono del peccato, ma tra gli uomini retti c'è grazia.
10 Il cuore conosce la sua propria amarezza, ma un estraneo non può prendere parte alla sua gioia.
11 La casa degli empi sarà distrutta, ma la tenda degli uomini retti fiorirà.
12 C'è una via che all'uomo sembra diritta ma la sua fine sfocia in vie di morte.
13 Anche nel riso il cuore può essere nell'afflizione, e la gioia stessa può finire nel dolore.
14 Lo sviato di cuore si sazierà delle sue vie, e l'uomo dabbene si sazierà dei suoi frutti.
15 Lo sciocco crede ad ogni parola, ma l'uomo prudente fa bene attenzione ai suoi passi.
16 L'uomo saggio teme e si allontana dal male, ma lo stolto si adira ed è presuntuoso.
17 Chi è facile all'ira commette follie e l'uomo con intenzioni cattive è odiato.
18 Gli sciocchi ereditano stoltezza, ma i prudenti sono coronati di conoscenza.
19 I malvagi si inchineranno davanti ai buoni e gli empi alle porte dei giusti.
20 Il povero è odiato dal suo stesso amico, ma il ricco ha molti corteggiatori.
21 Chi disprezza il suo prossimo pecca, ma chi ha pietà dei poveri è beato.
22 Non deviano forse dalla retta via quelli che tramano il male? Ma quelli che pensano il bene troveranno benignità e verità.
23 In ogni fatica c'è un guadagno, ma il parlare ozioso porta solo alla povertà.
24 La corona dei saggi è la loro ricchezza, ma la follia degli stolti è follia.
25 Un testimone verace salva delle vite ma un falso testimone proferisce menzogne.
26 Nel timore dell'Eterno c'è una grande sicurezza, e i suoi figli avranno un luogo di rifugio.
27 Il timore dell'Eterno è una fonte di vita che fa evitare i lacci della morte.
28 La gloria del re è nella moltitudine del popolo, ma la rovina del principe è nella scarsità della gente.
29 Chi è lento all'ira ha molta prudenza, ma chi è facile all'ira mette in mostra la sua follia.
30 Un cuore sano è vita per il corpo, ma l'invidia è il tarlo delle ossa.
31 Chi opprime il povero oltraggia colui che l'ha fatto, ma chi ha pietà del bisognoso lo onora.
32 L'empio è travolto dalla sua stessa malvagità, ma il giusto ha speranza nella sua stessa morte.
33 La sapienza riposa nel cuore di chi ha intendimento, ma ciò che è nel cuore degli stolti viene reso noto.
34 La giustizia innalza una nazione, ma il peccato è la vergogna dei popoli.
35 Il favore del re è per il servo che agisce saggiamente, ma la sua ira è contro chi si comporta vergognosamente.
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.
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
Copyright © 1991 by La Buona Novella s.c.r.l.