Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

14 The (A)wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
He who (B)walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
But he who is (C)devious in his ways despises Him.
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod [a]for his back,
But (D)the lips of the wise will protect them.
Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.
A (E)trustworthy witness will not lie,
But a (F)false witness [b](G)utters lies.
A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.
Leave the (H)presence of a fool,
Or you will not [c]discern [d]words of knowledge.
The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,
But (I)the foolishness of fools is deceit.
Fools mock at [e]sin,
But (J)among the upright there is [f]good will.
10 The heart knows its own (K)bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.
11 The (L)house of the wicked will be destroyed,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There (M)is a way which seems right to a man,
But its (N)end is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,
And the (O)end of joy may be grief.
14 The backslider in heart will have his (P)fill of his own ways,
But a good man will (Q)be satisfied [g]with his.
15 The [h]naive believes everything,
But the sensible man considers his steps.
16 A wise man [i]is cautious and (R)turns away from evil,
But a fool is arrogant and careless.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The [j]naive inherit foolishness,
But the sensible are crowned with knowledge.
19 The (S)evil will bow down before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The (T)poor is hated even by his neighbor,
But those who love the rich are many.
21 He who (U)despises his neighbor sins,
But (V)happy is he who is gracious to the [k]poor.
22 Will they not go astray who (W)devise evil?
But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit,
But [l]mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The (X)crown of the wise is their riches,
But the folly of fools is foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
But he who [m](Y)utters lies is [n]treacherous.
26 In the [o](Z)fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And [p]his children will have refuge.
27 The [q]fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
That one may avoid the snares of death.
28 In a multitude of people is a king’s glory,
But in the dearth of people is a prince’s ruin.
29 He who is (AA)slow to anger has great understanding,
But he who is [r]quick-tempered exalts folly.
30 A (AB)tranquil heart is life to the body,
But passion is (AC)rottenness to the bones.
31 He (AD)who oppresses the poor taunts (AE)his Maker,
But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked is (AF)thrust down by his [s]wrongdoing,
But the (AG)righteous has a refuge when he dies.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
But in the [t]hearts of fools it is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a (AH)servant who acts wisely,
But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

15 A (AI)gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a [u](AJ)harsh word stirs up anger.
The (AK)tongue of the wise makes knowledge [v]acceptable,
But the (AL)mouth of fools spouts folly.
The (AM)eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
A [w]soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it [x]crushes the spirit.
A fool [y]rejects his father’s discipline,
But he who regards reproof is sensible.
Great wealth is in the house of the (AN)righteous,
But trouble is in the income of the wicked.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.
The (AO)sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But (AP)the prayer of the upright is His delight.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But He loves one who (AQ)pursues righteousness.
10 Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way;
He who hates reproof will die.
11 [z](AR)Sheol and [aa]Abaddon lie open before the Lord,
How much more the (AS)hearts of [ab]men!
12 A (AT)scoffer does not love one who reproves him,
He will not go to the wise.
13 A (AU)joyful heart makes a [ac]cheerful face,
But [ad]when the heart is (AV)sad, the (AW)spirit is broken.
14 The (AX)mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are bad,
But a [ae]cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 (AY)Better is a little with the [af]fear of the Lord
Than great treasure and turmoil with it.
17 (AZ)Better is a [ag]dish of [ah]vegetables where love is
Than a (BA)fattened ox served with hatred.
18 A (BB)hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
But the (BC)slow to anger (BD)calms a dispute.
19 The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A (BE)wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man (BF)despises his mother.
21 Folly is joy to him who lacks [ai]sense,
But a man of understanding (BG)walks straight.
22 Without consultation, plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they [aj]succeed.
23 A (BH)man has joy in an [ak]apt answer,
And how delightful is a timely (BI)word!
24 The (BJ)path of life leads upward for the wise
That he may keep away from [al]Sheol below.
25 The Lord will (BK)tear down the house of the proud,
But He will (BL)establish the boundary of the (BM)widow.
26 Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,
But pleasant words are pure.
27 He who (BN)profits illicitly troubles his own house,
But he who (BO)hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous (BP)ponders how to answer,
But the (BQ)mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is (BR)far from the wicked,
But He (BS)hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 [am]Bright eyes gladden the heart;
Good news puts fat on the bones.
31 He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof
Will dwell among the wise.
32 He who (BT)neglects discipline (BU)despises himself,
But he who (BV)listens to reproof acquires [an]understanding.
33 The [ao]fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:3 Lit of pride
  2. Proverbs 14:5 Lit breathes out
  3. Proverbs 14:7 Lit know
  4. Proverbs 14:7 Lit lips
  5. Proverbs 14:9 Lit guilt
  6. Proverbs 14:9 Or the favor of God
  7. Proverbs 14:14 Lit from himself
  8. Proverbs 14:15 Lit simple
  9. Proverbs 14:16 Lit fears
  10. Proverbs 14:18 Lit simple
  11. Proverbs 14:21 Or afflicted
  12. Proverbs 14:23 Lit word of lips
  13. Proverbs 14:25 Lit breathes out
  14. Proverbs 14:25 Lit treachery
  15. Proverbs 14:26 Or reverence
  16. Proverbs 14:26 Or His
  17. Proverbs 14:27 Or reverence
  18. Proverbs 14:29 Lit short of spirit
  19. Proverbs 14:32 Or calamity
  20. Proverbs 14:33 Lit inward part
  21. Proverbs 15:1 Lit painful
  22. Proverbs 15:2 Lit good
  23. Proverbs 15:4 Lit healing
  24. Proverbs 15:4 Lit is the crushing of the spirit
  25. Proverbs 15:5 Or despises
  26. Proverbs 15:11 I.e. the nether world
  27. Proverbs 15:11 I.e. place of destruction
  28. Proverbs 15:11 Lit sons of Adam
  29. Proverbs 15:13 Lit good
  30. Proverbs 15:13 Lit in sadness of heart
  31. Proverbs 15:15 Lit good
  32. Proverbs 15:16 Or reverence
  33. Proverbs 15:17 Or portion
  34. Proverbs 15:17 Or herbs
  35. Proverbs 15:21 Lit heart
  36. Proverbs 15:22 Or are established
  37. Proverbs 15:23 Lit answer of his mouth
  38. Proverbs 15:24 I.e. the nether world
  39. Proverbs 15:30 Lit The light of the eyes gladdens
  40. Proverbs 15:32 Lit heart
  41. Proverbs 15:33 Or reverence

Principles of Conscience

14 Now (A)accept the one who is (B)weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. (C)One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is (D)weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to (E)regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to (F)judge the one who eats, for God has (G)accepted him. (H)Who are you to judge the [a]servant of another? To his own [b]master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

(I)One person [c]regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be (J)fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, [d]does so for the Lord, for he (K)gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. For not one of us (L)lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore (M)whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end (N)Christ died and lived again, that He might be (O)Lord both of the dead and of the living.

10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you (P)regard your brother with contempt? For (Q)we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written,

(R)As I live, says the Lord, (S)every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall [e]give praise to God.”

12 So then (T)each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

13 Therefore let us not (U)judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—(V)not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. 14 I know and am convinced [f]in the Lord Jesus that (W)nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who (X)thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer (Y)walking according to love. (Z)Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore (AA)do not let what is for you a good thing be [g]spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God (AB)is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and (AC)peace and (AD)joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way (AE)serves Christ is (AF)acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then [h]we (AG)pursue the things which make for peace and the (AH)building up of one another. 20 (AI)Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. (AJ)All things indeed are clean, but (AK)they are evil for the man who eats [i]and gives offense. 21 (AL)It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. 22 The faith which you have, have [j]as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who (AM)does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But (AN)he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:4 Or house-servant
  2. Romans 14:4 Lit lord
  3. Romans 14:5 Lit judges
  4. Romans 14:6 Lit eats
  5. Romans 14:11 Or confess
  6. Romans 14:14 Lit through
  7. Romans 14:16 Lit blasphemed
  8. Romans 14:19 Later mss read let us pursue
  9. Romans 14:20 Lit with offense
  10. Romans 14:22 Lit according to yourself