Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14 (New International Version)

 ¹ The wise woman builds her house,
       but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

 ² He whose walk is upright fears the LORD,
       but he whose ways are devious despises him.

 ³ A fool's talk brings a rod to his back,
       but the lips of the wise protect them.

 ⁴ Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
       but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.

 ⁵ A truthful witness does not deceive,
       but a false witness pours out lies.

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

 ⁷ Stay away from a foolish man,
       for you will not find knowledge on his lips.

 ⁸ The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
       but the folly of fools is deception.

 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,
       but the tent of the upright will flourish.

 ¹² There is a way that seems right to a man,
       but in the end it leads to death.

 ¹³ Even in laughter the heart may ache,
       and joy may end in grief.

 ¹⁴ The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,
       and the good man rewarded for his.

 ¹⁵ A simple man believes anything,
       but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.

 ¹⁶ A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil,
       but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.

 ¹⁷ A quick-tempered man does foolish things,
       and a crafty man is hated.

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

 ¹⁹ Evil men will bow down in the presence of the good,
       and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

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

 ²¹ He who despises his neighbor sins,
       but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.

 ²² Do not those who plot evil go astray?
       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.

 ²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives,
       but a false witness is deceitful.

 ²⁶ He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress,
       and for his children it will be a refuge.

 ²⁷ The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
       turning a man from the snares of death.

 ²⁸ A large population is a king's glory,
       but without subjects a prince is ruined.

 ²⁹ A patient man has great understanding,
       but a quick-tempered man displays folly.

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

 ³¹ He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
       but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

 ³² When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,
       but even in death the righteous have a refuge.

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

 ³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation,
       but sin is a disgrace to any people.

 ³⁵ A king delights in a wise servant,
       but a shameful servant incurs his wrath.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 14:22 Or show
2. Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac / but in the heart of fools she is not known