Proverbs 14-16

New International Version

14 The wise woman builds her house,^(A)
    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

² Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
    but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

³ A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,^(B)
    but the lips of the wise protect them.^(C)

⁴ Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
    but from the strength of an ox^(D) come abundant harvests.

⁵ An honest witness does not deceive,
    but a false witness pours out lies.^(E)

⁶ The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.^(F)

⁷ Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

⁸ The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,^(G)
    but the folly of fools is deception.^(H)

⁹ Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

¹⁰ Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can share its joy.

¹¹ The house of the wicked will be destroyed,^(I)
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.^(J)

¹² There is a way that appears to be right,^(K)
    but in the end it leads to death.^(L)

¹³ Even in laughter^(M) the heart may ache,
    and rejoicing may end in grief.

¹⁴ The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,^(N)
    and the good rewarded for theirs.^(O)

¹⁵ The simple believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps.^(P)

¹⁶ The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,^(Q)
    but a fool^(R) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

¹⁷ A quick-tempered person^(S) does foolish things,^(T)
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.^(U)

¹⁸ The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

¹⁹ Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
    and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.^(V)

²⁰ The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
    but the rich have many friends.^(W)

²¹ It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,^(X)
    but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.^(Y)

²² Do not those who plot evil go astray?^(Z)
    But those who plan what is good find^[a] love and faithfulness.

²³ All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

²⁴ The wealth of the wise is their crown,
    but the folly of fools yields folly.^(AA)

²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives,
    but a false witness is deceitful.^(AB)

²⁶ Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,^(AC)
    and for their children it will be a refuge.^(AD)

²⁷ The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,^(AE)
    turning a person from the snares of death.^(AF)

²⁸ A large population is a king’s glory,
    but without subjects a prince is ruined.^(AG)

²⁹ Whoever is patient has great understanding,^(AH)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.^(AI)

³⁰ A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.^(AJ)

³¹ Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,^(AK)
    but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.^(AL)

³² When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,^(AM)
    but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.^(AN)

³³ Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning^(AO)
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.^[b]

³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation,^(AP)
    but sin condemns any people.

³⁵ A king delights in a wise servant,
    but a shameful servant arouses his fury.^(AQ)

15 A gentle answer^(AR) turns away wrath,^(AS)
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

² The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,^(AT)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.^(AU)

³ The eyes^(AV) of the Lord are everywhere,^(AW)
    keeping watch on the wicked and the good.^(AX)

⁴ The soothing tongue^(AY) is a tree of life,^(AZ)
    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.^(BA)

⁵ A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.^(BB)

⁶ The house of the righteous contains great treasure,^(BC)
    but the income of the wicked brings ruin.^(BD)

⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge,^(BE)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

⁸ The Lord detests the sacrifice^(BF) of the wicked,^(BG)
    but the prayer of the upright pleases him.^(BH)

⁹ The Lord detests the way of the wicked,^(BI)
    but he loves those who pursue righteousness.^(BJ)

¹⁰ Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
    the one who hates correction will die.^(BK)

¹¹ Death and Destruction^[c] lie open before the Lord^(BL)—
    how much more do human hearts!^(BM)

¹² Mockers resent correction,^(BN)
    so they avoid the wise.

¹³ A happy heart makes the face cheerful,^(BO)
    but heartache crushes the spirit.^(BP)

¹⁴ The discerning heart seeks knowledge,^(BQ)
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

¹⁵ All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
    but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.^(BR)

¹⁶ Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.^(BS)

¹⁷ Better a small serving of vegetables with love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.^(BT)

¹⁸ A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,^(BU)
    but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.^(BV)

¹⁹ The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,^(BW)
    but the path of the upright is a highway.

²⁰ A wise son brings joy to his father,^(BX)
    but a foolish man despises his mother.

²¹ Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,^(BY)
    but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

²² Plans fail for lack of counsel,^(BZ)
    but with many advisers^(CA) they succeed.^(CB)

²³ A person finds joy in giving an apt reply^(CC)—
    and how good is a timely word!^(CD)

²⁴ The path of life leads upward for the prudent
    to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.

²⁵ The Lord tears down the house of the proud,^(CE)
    but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.^(CF)

²⁶ The Lord detests the thoughts^(CG) of the wicked,^(CH)
    but gracious words are pure^(CI) in his sight.

²⁷ The greedy bring ruin to their households,
    but the one who hates bribes will live.^(CJ)

²⁸ The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,^(CK)
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.^(CL)

²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.^(CM)

³⁰ Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.^(CN)

³¹ Whoever heeds life-giving correction
    will be at home among the wise.^(CO)

³² Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,^(CP)
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.^(CQ)

³³ Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,^(CR)
    and humility comes before honor.^(CS)

16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.^(CT)

² All a person’s ways seem pure to them,^(CU)
    but motives are weighed^(CV) by the Lord.^(CW)

³ Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.^(CX)

⁴ The Lord works out everything to its proper end^(CY)—
    even the wicked for a day of disaster.^(CZ)

⁵ The Lord detests all the proud of heart.^(DA)
    Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.^(DB)

⁶ Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
    through the fear of the Lord^(DC) evil is avoided.^(DD)

⁷ When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
    he causes their enemies to make peace^(DE) with them.^(DF)

⁸ Better a little with righteousness
    than much gain^(DG) with injustice.^(DH)

⁹ In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.^(DI)

¹⁰ The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
    and his mouth does not betray justice.^(DJ)

¹¹ Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
    all the weights in the bag are of his making.^(DK)

¹² Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for a throne is established through righteousness.^(DL)

¹³ Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
    they value the one who speaks what is right.^(DM)

¹⁴ A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,^(DN)
    but the wise will appease it.^(DO)

¹⁵ When a king’s face brightens, it means life;^(DP)
    his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.^(DQ)

¹⁶ How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight^(DR) rather than silver!^(DS)

¹⁷ The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their ways preserve their lives.^(DT)

¹⁸ Pride^(DU) goes before destruction,
    a haughty spirit^(DV) before a fall.^(DW)

¹⁹ Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
    than to share plunder with the proud.

²⁰ Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,^[d](DX)
    and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.^(DY)

²¹ The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction.^[e](DZ)

²² Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,^(EA)
    but folly brings punishment to fools.

²³ The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,^(EB)
    and their lips promote instruction.^[f](EC)

²⁴ Gracious words are a honeycomb,^(ED)
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.^(EE)

²⁵ There is a way that appears to be right,^(EF)
    but in the end it leads to death.^(EG)

²⁶ The appetite of laborers works for them;
    their hunger drives them on.

²⁷ A scoundrel^(EH) plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.^(EI)

²⁸ A perverse person stirs up conflict,^(EJ)
    and a gossip separates close friends.^(EK)

²⁹ A violent person entices their neighbor
    and leads them down a path that is not good.^(EL)

³⁰ Whoever winks^(EM) with their eye is plotting perversity;
    whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

³¹ Gray hair is a crown of splendor;^(EN)
    it is attained in the way of righteousness.

³² Better a patient person than a warrior,
    one with self-control than one who takes a city.

³³ The lot is cast^(EO) into the lap,
    but its every decision^(EP) is from the Lord.^(EQ)