Proverbs 14
Complete Jewish Bible
14 Every wise woman builds up her home,
but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2 A person with upright conduct fears Adonai,
but a person who is devious scorns him.
3 From the mouth of a fool sprouts pride,
but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the stalls are clean;
but much is produced by the strength of an ox.
5 An honest witness will not lie,
but a false witness lies with every breath.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge comes easily to someone with discernment.
7 Keep clear of a fool,
for you won’t hear a sensible word from him.
8 The wisdom of the cautious makes him know where he is going,
but the folly of fools misleads them.
9 Guilt offerings make a mockery of fools;
but among the upright there is good will.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger can share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There can be a way which seems right to a person,
but at its end are the ways of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart can be sad,
and joy may end in sorrow.
14 A backslider is filled up with his own ways,
but a good person gets satisfaction from himself.
15 One who doesn’t think believes every word,
but the cautious understands his steps.
16 A wise person fears and turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and overconfident.
17 He who is quick-tempered does stupid things,
and one who does vile things is hated.
18 Thoughtless people inherit folly,
but the cautious are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor are disliked even by their peers,
but the rich have many friends.
21 He who despises his fellow sins,
but he who shows compassion to the humble is happy.
22 Won’t those who plot evil go astray?
But grace and truth are for those who plan good.
23 In all work there is profit,
but mere talk produces only poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
but the folly of fools is just that — folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but a liar misdirects [judgment].
26 In the fear of Adonai is powerful security;
for his children there will be a place of refuge.
27 The fear of Adonai is a fountain of life
enabling one to avoid deadly traps.
28 A king’s glory lies in having many subjects;
if the prince’s people are few, it is his ruin.
29 Being slow to anger goes with great understanding,
being quick-tempered makes folly still worse.
30 A tranquil mind gives health to the body,
but envy rots the bones.
31 The oppressor of the poor insults his maker,
but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
32 The wicked are brought down by their wrongdoing,
but the righteous can be confident even at death.
33 Wisdom is at rest in a person with discernment,
but in fools it has to call attention to itself.
34 Righteousness makes a nation great,
but sin degrades any people.
35 A king shows favor to a servant with good sense,
but his wrath strikes one who shames [him].
Proverbs 14
The Message
A Way That Leads to Hell
14 Lady Wisdom builds a lovely home;
Sir Fool comes along and tears it down brick by brick.
2 An honest life shows respect for God;
a degenerate life is a slap in his face.
3 Frivolous talk provokes a derisive smile;
wise speech evokes nothing but respect.
4 No cattle, no crops;
a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow.
5 A true witness never lies;
a false witness makes a business of it.
6 Cynics look high and low for wisdom—and never find it;
the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!
7 Escape quickly from the company of fools;
they’re a waste of your time, a waste of your words.
8 The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track;
the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.
9 The stupid ridicule right and wrong,
but a moral life is a favored life.
10 The person who shuns the bitter moments of friends
will be an outsider at their celebrations.
11 Lives of careless wrongdoing are run-down shacks;
holy living builds soaring cathedrals.
12-13 There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough;
look again—it leads straight to hell.
Sure, those people appear to be having a good time,
but all that laughter will end in heartbreak.
Sift and Weigh Every Word
14 A mean person gets paid back in meanness,
a gracious person in grace.
15 The gullible believe anything they’re told;
the prudent sift and weigh every word.
16 The wise watch their steps and avoid evil;
fools are headstrong and reckless.
17 The hotheaded do things they’ll later regret;
the coldhearted get the cold shoulder.
18 Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion;
wise realists plant their feet on the ground.
19 Eventually, evil will pay tribute to good;
the wicked will respect God-loyal people.
20 An unlucky loser is shunned by all,
but everyone loves a winner.
21 It’s criminal to ignore a neighbor in need,
but compassion for the poor—what a blessing!
22 Isn’t it obvious that conspirators lose out,
while the thoughtful win love and trust?
23 Hard work always pays off;
mere talk puts no bread on the table.
24 The wise accumulate wisdom;
fools get stupider by the day.
25 Souls are saved by truthful witness
and betrayed by the spread of lies.
26 The Fear-of-God builds up confidence,
and makes a world safe for your children.
27 The Fear-of-God is a spring of living water
so you won’t go off drinking from poisoned wells.
28 The mark of a good leader is loyal followers;
leadership is nothing without a following.
29 Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding;
a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.
30 A sound mind makes for a robust body,
but runaway emotions corrode the bones.
31 You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless;
when you’re kind to the poor, you honor God.
32 The evil of bad people leaves them out in the cold;
the integrity of good people creates a safe place for living.
33 Lady Wisdom is at home in an understanding heart—
fools never even get to say hello.
34 God-devotion makes a country strong;
God-avoidance leaves people weak.
35 Diligent work gets a warm commendation;
shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson