Proverbs 14

1 *[ch. 9:1;24:3] The wisest of women *Deut. 25:9;Ruth 4:11builds her house,

but folly with her own hands *[ch. 11:11]tears it down.

2 Whoever *ch. 19:1;28:6walks in uprightness fears the Lord,

but he who is *ch. 2:15devious in his ways despises him.

3 By the mouth of a fool comes *[Jer. 18:18] a rod for his back,*14:3 Or In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride

*ch. 12:6but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,

but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

5 *[Ex. 23:1] A faithful witness does not lie,

but *See ch. 6:19a false witness breathes out lies.

6 *[ch. 24:7] A scoffer seeks wisdom *[Ps. 25:9;1 Pet. 5:5] in vain,

but *[ch. 8:9;15:14;17:24]knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

7 Leave the presence of a fool,

for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,

but the folly of fools is deceiving.

9 *[ch. 10:23]Fools mock at the guilt offering,

but the upright enjoy acceptance.*14:9 Hebrew but among the upright is acceptance

10 The heart knows its own *[1 Sam. 1:10]; See Job 3:20bitterness,

and no stranger shares its joy.

11 *[ch. 3:33;15:25;Job 8:15;21:28]The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

but the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 *ch. 16:25;See ch. 12:15There is a way that seems right to a man,

but *[ch. 5:5;Rom. 6:21]; See ch. 7:27its end is the way to death.*14:12 Hebrew ways of death

13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,

and *[Eccles. 2:2;Luke 6:25] the end of joy may be *ch. 10:1grief.

14 The backslider in heart will be *[ch. 1:31;Matt. 6:2,5] filled with the fruit of his ways,

and *ch. 12:14;Isa. 3:10a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.

15 *See ch. 1:4The simple believes everything,

but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

16 *[ch. 22:3;27:12] One who is wise is cautious*14:16 Or fears [the Lord] and *[ch. 3:7]; See Job 28:28;Ps. 34:14turns away from evil,

but a fool is reckless and careless.

17 A man of *[ver. 29]quick temper acts foolishly,

and a man of evil devices is hated.

18 The simple inherit folly,

but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 *[Gen. 42:6;1 Sam. 2:36]The evil bow down before the good,

the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 *ch. 19:7The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,

*ch. 19:4but the rich has many friends.

21 Whoever *ch. 11:12despises his neighbor is a sinner,

but *Ps. 41:1blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

22 Do they not go astray who *See ch. 3:29devise evil?

Those who devise good meet*14:22 Or show*ch. 3:3steadfast love and faithfulness.

23 In all toil there is profit,

but mere talk *[ch. 11:24;21:5;22:16]tends only to poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,

but the folly of fools brings folly.

25 A truthful witness saves lives,

but one who *ver. 5breathes out lies is deceitful.

26 In the fear of the Lord one has *[ch. 1:33] strong confidence,

and *[Ps. 73:15] his children will have *See Ps. 14:6a refuge.

27 The fear of the Lord is *See ch. 10:11a fountain of life,

that one may *See ch. 13:14turn away from the snares of death.

28 In *[1 Kgs. 4:20]a multitude of people is the glory of a king,

but without people a prince is ruined.

29 Whoever is *ch. 16:32;19:11;[ver. 17; Eccles. 7:9;James 1:19]slow to anger has great understanding,

but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

30 A tranquil*14:30 Or healing heart gives *See ch. 4:22life to the flesh,

but *[Ps. 112:10] envy*14:30 Or jealousy makes *ch. 12:4the bones rot.

31 Whoever oppresses a poor man *ch. 17:5;[Matt. 25:40,45] insults his *ch. 22:2;See Job 35:10Maker,

*ch. 28:8but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

32 *ch. 24:16The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,

but *Gen. 49:18;Ps. 16:11;17:15;23:4;2 Cor. 1:9;5:8;2 Tim. 4:18;[Num. 23:10]; See Job 19:25-27the righteous finds refuge in his death.

33 Wisdom *Eccles. 7:9;ch. 12:16;29:11rests in the heart of a man of understanding,

but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.*14:33 Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,

but sin is a reproach to any people.

35 A servant who deals wisely has *[ch. 16:13;22:11]; See Matt. 24:45-47the king’s favor,

but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.