Proverbs 14
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 14
Righteousness Is a Sign of a Nation’s Greatness[a]
1 Wisdom builds herself a house,
but Folly tears down hers with her own hands.
2 One whose conduct is upright fears the Lord,[b]
but one whose paths are crooked despises him.
3 The words of a fool ensure a rod for his back,[c]
but the lips of the wise keep them safe.
4 Where there are no oxen, the barn is empty of grain,
but abundant crops come through the strength of the ox.
5 A truthful witness does not lie,
but a false witness lies incessantly.[d]
6 In vain does a scoffer[e] seek wisdom,
but knowledge comes easily to the man of discernment.
7 Do not remain in the presence of a fool,
for you will not gain any wisdom there.
8 The prudent possess the wisdom to follow the right way,
but the folly of fools misleads them.
9 Fools see no need to atone for guilt,
but the upright do so and enjoy God’s favor.
10 The heart knows its own grief best,
and no one else can share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will stand firm.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but the end of it leads to death.
13 Even at times of laughter the heart may be sad,
and joy may end in grief.
14 The perverse man suffers the consequences of his ways,
while a good man reaps what his deeds deserve.
15 A simple man believes everything he hears,
but a prudent man carefully considers every step.
16 A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil,
but the fool is reckless and shows no restraint.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
but a prudent man is long-suffering.
18 The simple are adorned with folly,
but the prudent have knowledge as their crown.
19 Evil men will bow down before the good,
and the wicked will do so at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor man is disliked even by his neighbor,
but one who is wealthy never lacks for friends.
21 Anyone who despises his neighbor is a sinner,[f]
but blessed is he who is kind to the poor.
22 Do not those who hatch evil go astray?
But those who plan good are loyal and faithful.
23 Diligent labor always yields profit,
but idle conversation only leads to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches;
the garland of fools is their folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives;
anyone who utters lies is an impostor.
26 He who fears the Lord[g] provides strong security,
and in him one’s children will find a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord[h] is a fountain of life
enabling a man to avoid the snares of death.
28 Many subjects ensure the glory of a king,
but if his subjects are few, he is of no importance.
29 A patient man shows good sense,
but a quick-tempered man displays the height of folly.
30 A tranquil heart gives life to the body,
but envy causes the bones to rot.
31 He who oppresses the poor insults their Creator,
but the one who is kind to the needy[i] does him honor.
32 The evildoer is undone by his malice,
but the upright finds refuge in his integrity.
33 Wisdom finds a home in an understanding heart,[j]
but she is not found in the heart of fools.
34 Righteousness is a sign of a nation’s greatness,
but sin degrades any people.
35 A king favors a prudent servant
but is angry with a shameful servant.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:1 Fear of God, wisdom, common sense, understanding, and honesty build up one’s life. Folly tarnishes all that it touches; it destroys the values of humans and society, for it is falsehood, vanity, and injustice. The upright take the side of the poor and the lowly, whereas the evildoer is the person without pity and without feelings. In passing, we will pause at the fine psychological notation about human suffering (vv. 10, 13). Readers will take up again the phrase that entices or offends them; the essential thing is to find some points of departure to achieve a more just idea of life.
- Proverbs 14:2 Fears the Lord: see note on Prov 1:7.
- Proverbs 14:3 Rod for his back: see note on Prov 13:24.
- Proverbs 14:5 See note on Prov 6:19.
- Proverbs 14:6 Scoffer: see note on Prov 1:22.
- Proverbs 14:21 Anyone who despises his neighbor is a sinner: for the Lord had said: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev 19:18). Blessed is he who is kind to the poor: such a person “does . . . honor” to God (v. 31) and will “suffer [no] want” (Prov 28:27; see also Prov 21:13; Ps 41:2). Proverbs indicates some of the ways one can be kind to the poor: sharing one’s food with them (Prov 22:9), giving them money (Prov 28:8), and defending their rights (Prov 31:9).
- Proverbs 14:26 Fears the Lord: see note on Prov 1:7.
- Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the Lord: see note on Prov 1:7.
- Proverbs 14:31 Since God created both the rich and the poor in his image (see Prov 22:2; Job 31:15; Jas 3:9), whoever oppresses the poor insults their Creator. Kind to the needy: see note on verse 21. Does him honor: i.e., carries out his will and also “lends to the Lord” (Prov 19:17; see Mt 25:40).
- Proverbs 14:33 Heart: for the Semites the heart was the seat of knowledge and understanding (see note on Ps 4:8).
Mishle 14
Orthodox Jewish Bible
14 Chachmot nashim buildeth her bais, but the foolish pulleth it down with her hands.
2 He that walketh in his yashar feareth Hashem, but he that is devious in his drakhim despiseth Him.
3 In the peh (mouth) of the fool is a rod of ga’avah (pride), but the sfatayim (lips) of the chachamim shall be shomer over them and preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, the evus (feeding trough) is clean, but much increase is by the ko’ach of the shor (ox).
5 An ed emunim will not lie, but an ed sheker will utter lies.
6 A scoffer seeketh chochmah, and findeth it not, but da’as cometh easily unto him that is discerning.
7 Go from the presence of an ish kesil, when thou perceivest not in him the sfatayim (lips) of da’as (knowledge).
8 The chochmah of the prudent is to understand his derech, but the folly of kesilim is mirmah (deceit).
9 Fools mock at guilt, but among the yesharim (upright ones) there is ratzon (favor).
10 The lev knoweth its own bitterness, and a zar (stranger) doth not share its simchah.
11 The bais of the resha’im shall be shmad, but the ohel of the yesharim shall flourish.
12 There is a derech (road) which seemeth yashar (right) unto an ish, but the acharit (latter end, future) thereof are the drakhim of mavet.
13 Even in sekhok (laughter) the lev is sad, and the acharit (latter end) of that simchah is grief.
14 The sug (backslider, faithless one) in lev is filled with his own drakhim (roads), but an ish tov shall be satisfied from above himself.
15 The naive believeth every davar, but the prudent looketh with care to his steps.
16 A chacham feareth, and departeth from rah, but the kesil throweth off restraint and is arrogantly reckless.
17 He that is quicktempered dealeth folly, and an ish mezimot (a man of crafty schemes) is hated.
18 The naive inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with da’as.
19 The ra’im will bow before the tov’im, and the resha’im at the she’arim of the tzaddik.
20 The poor is hated even by his own re’a (neighbor), but the oisher hath many friends.
21 He that despiseth his re’a sinneth, but he that is kind to the anayim (needy ones), happy is he.
22 Do they not go astray that plot rah? But chesed and emes shall be to them that plan tov.
23 In all hard work there is profit, but idle chatter of the sfatayim (lips) tendeth only to makhsor (poverty, want).
24 The ateret chachamim is their riches, but the foolishness of kesilim is folly.
25 An ed emes (true witness) saveth nefashot (souls, lives), but a lying witness is a betrayer.
26 In the Yirat Hashem is strong confidence, and his banim shall have a place of refuge.
27 The Yirat Hashem is a makor chayyim (fountain of life) to turn one away from the snares of mavet.
28 In the multitude of people is the glory of a melech, but in the lack of subjects is the ruin of the prince.
29 He that is slow to wrath is of rav tevunah (great understanding), but he that is angrily impulsive exalteth folly.
30 A lev marpeh (sound mind) is life to the basar, but kinah (envy) is the rottenness of the atzmot (bones).
31 He that oppresseth the dal (poor) showeth contempt for his Oseh (Maker), but he that honoreth Him is kind to the evyon (needy).
32 The reshah is banished in his ra’ah, but the tzaddik hath refuge in his mot (death).
33 In the lev of the discerning reposes chochmah, but that which is in kesilim is made known.
34 Tzedakah exalteth a nation, but chattat (sin) is a reproach to any people.
35 The ratzon melech (king’s favor) is toward an eved maskil (a wise servant), but his wrath is against him that bringeth shame.
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 King James Version
The Ways of Life and Death
14 The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
(A)But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
(B)But the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, the [a]trough is clean;
But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it,
But (E)knowledge is easy to him who understands.
7 Go from the presence of a foolish man,
When you do not perceive in him the lips of (F)knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But the folly of fools is deceit.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.
11 (H)The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.
13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,
And (L)the end of mirth may be grief.
14 The backslider in heart will be (M)filled with his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied [c]from (N)above.
15 The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps.
16 (O)A wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self-confident.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of wicked intentions is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil will bow before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 (P)The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor,
But [d]the rich has many (Q)friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins;
(R)But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
22 Do they not go astray who devise evil?
But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit,
But [e]idle chatter leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the foolishness of fools is folly.
26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.
27 (T)The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.
28 In a multitude of people is a king’s honor,
But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.
31 (X)He who oppresses the poor reproaches (Y)his Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.
32 The wicked is banished in his wickedness,
But (Z)the righteous has a refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
But (AA)what is in the heart of fools is made known.
35 (AC)The king’s favor is toward a wise servant,
But his wrath is against him who causes shame.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:4 manger or feed trough
- Proverbs 14:9 Lit. guilt
- Proverbs 14:14 Lit. from above himself
- Proverbs 14:20 Lit. many are the lovers of the rich
- Proverbs 14:23 Lit. talk of the lips
- Proverbs 14:25 saves lives
- Proverbs 14:29 Lit. short of spirit
- Proverbs 14:34 shame or disgrace
Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
