Proverbs 14
New American Standard Bible
Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
14 The (A)wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
2 One who (B)walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
But one who is (C)devious in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,
But (D)the lips of the wise will protect them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean;
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.
5 A (E)trustworthy witness will not lie,
But a (F)false witness (G)declares lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy for one who has understanding.
7 Leave the (H)presence of a fool,
Or you will not [a]discern [b]words of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,
But (I)the foolishness of fools is deceit.
9 Fools mock at [c]sin,
But (J)among the upright there is [d]goodwill.
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 person,
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 One with a wayward heart will have his (P)fill of his own ways,
But a good person will (Q)be satisfied [e]with his.
15 The naive believes everything,
But the sensible person considers his steps.
16 A wise person [f]is cautious and (R)turns away from evil,
But a fool is arrogant and careless.
17 A quick-tempered person acts foolishly,
And a person of evil devices is hated.
18 The 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 One who (U)despises his neighbor sins,
But (V)one who is gracious to the [g]poor is blessed.
22 Will they who (W)devise evil not go astray?
But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit,
But [h]mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The (X)crown of the wise is their riches,
But the foolishness of fools is simply foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
But one who (Y)declares lies is [i]deceitful.
26 In [j](Z)the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And [k]his children will have refuge.
27 [l]The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
By which one may avoid the snares of death.
28 In a multitude of people is a king’s glory,
But in the scarcity of people is a prince’s ruin.
29 One who is (AA)slow to anger has great understanding;
But one who is [m]quick-tempered exalts foolishness.
30 A (AB)tranquil heart is life to the body,
But jealousy is (AC)rottenness to the bones.
31 One (AD)who oppresses the poor taunts (AE)his Maker,
But one who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked is (AF)thrust down by his own wrongdoing,
But the (AG)righteous has a refuge when he dies.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
But among 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.
Notas al pie
- Proverbs 14:7 Lit know
- Proverbs 14:7 Lit lips
- Proverbs 14:9 Lit guilt
- Proverbs 14:9 Or the favor of God
- Proverbs 14:14 Lit from himself
- Proverbs 14:16 Lit fears
- Proverbs 14:21 Or afflicted
- Proverbs 14:23 Lit word of lips
- Proverbs 14:25 Lit a fraud
- Proverbs 14:26 Or reverence for
- Proverbs 14:26 Or His
- Proverbs 14:27 Or Reverence for
- Proverbs 14:29 Lit short of spirit
Proverbs 14
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
14 The wise woman[a] builds her house,
but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
2 Those who walk uprightly fear the Lord,
but one who is devious in conduct despises him.(A)
3 The talk of fools is a rod for their backs,[b]
but the lips of the wise preserve them.(B)
4 Where there are no oxen, there is no grain;
abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes out lies.(C)
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge is easy for one who understands.
7 Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not find words of knowledge.
8 It is the wisdom of the clever to understand where they go,
but the folly of fools misleads.(D)
9 Fools mock at the guilt offering,[c]
but the upright enjoy God’s favor.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.
11 The house of the wicked is destroyed,
but the tent of the upright flourishes.(E)
12 There is a way that seems right to a person,
but its end is the way to death.[d](F)
13 Even in laughter the heart is sad,
and the end of joy is grief.(G)
14 The perverse get what their ways deserve,
and the good, what their deeds deserve.[e](H)
15 The simple believe everything,
but the clever consider their steps.
16 The wise are cautious and turn away from evil,
but the fool throws off restraint and is careless.(I)
17 One who is quick-tempered acts foolishly,
and the schemer is hated.(J)
18 The simple are adorned with[f] folly,
but the clever are crowned with knowledge.(K)
19 The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.(L)
20 The poor are disliked even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends.(M)
21 Those who despise their neighbors are sinners,
but happy are those who are kind to the poor.(N)
22 Do not those who plan evil err?
Those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but folly is the garland[g] of fools.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who utters lies is a betrayer.(O)
26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,
and one’s children will have a refuge.(P)
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
so that one may avoid the snares of death.(Q)
28 The glory of a king is a multitude of people;
without people a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly.(R)
30 A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh,
but jealousy makes the bones rot.(S)
31 Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker,
but those who are kind to the needy honor him.(T)
32 The wicked are overthrown by their evildoing,
but the righteous find a refuge in their integrity.[h](U)
33 Wisdom is at home in the mind of one who has understanding,
but it is not[i] known in the heart of fools.(V)
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.(W)
35 A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.(X)
Proverbs 14
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
14 A wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish will pull down with her hands that also which is built.
2 He that walketh in the right way, and feareth God, Cis despised by him that goeth by an infamous way.
3 In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride: but the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the crib is empty: but where there is much corn, there the strength of the ox is manifest.
5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a deceitful witness uttereth a lie.
6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: the learning of the wise is easy.
7 Go against a foolish man, and he knoweth not the lips of prudence.
8 The wisdom of a. discreet man is to understand his way: and the imprudence of fools erreth.
9 A fool will laugh at sin, but among the just grace shall abide.
10 The heart that knoweth the bitterness of his own soul, in his joy the stranger shall not intermeddle.
11 The house of the wicked shall be destroyed: but the tabernacles of the just shall flourish.
12 There is a way which seemeth just to a man: but the ends thereof lead to death.
13 Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning taketh hold of the end of joy.
14 A fool shall be filled with his own ways, and the good man shall be above him.
15 The innocent believeth every word: the discreet man considereth his steps. No good shall come to the deceitful son: but the wise servant shall prosper in his dealings, and his way shall be made straight.
16 A wise man feareth and declineth from evil: the fool leapeth over and is confident.
17 The impatient man shall work folly: and the crafty man is hateful.
18 The childish shall possess folly, and the prudent, shall look for knowledge.
19 The evil shall fall down before the good: and the wicked before the gates of the just.
20 The poor man shall be hateful even to his own neighbour: but the friends of the rich are many.
21 He that despiseth his neighbour, sinneth: but he that sheweth mercy to the poor, shall be blessed. He that believeth in the Lord, loveth mercy.
22 They err that work evil: but mercy and truth prepare good things.
23 In much work there shall be abundance: but where there are many words, there is oftentimes want.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches: the folly of fools, imprudence.
25 A faithful witness delivereth souls: and the double dealer uttereth lies.
26 In the fear of the Lord is confidence of strength, and there shall be hope for his children.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to decline from the ruin of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the dignity of the king: and in the small number of people the dishonour of the prince.
29 He that is patient, is governed with much wisdom: but he that is impatient, exalteth his folly.
30 Soundness of heart is the life of the flesh: but envy is the rottenness of the bones.
31 He that oppresseth the poor, upbraideth his Maker: but he that hath pity on the poor, honoureth him.
32 The wicked man shall be driven out in his wickedness: but the just hath hope in his death.
33 In the heart of the prudent resteth wisdom, and it shall instruct all the ignorant.
34 Justice exalteth a nation: but sin maketh nations miserable.
35 A wise servant is acceptable to the king: he that is good for nothing shall feel his anger.
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.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson