Proverbs 14

¹A wise woman builds up her household. But a foolish one will pull down with her own hands what has been built up.

²One who walks on a virtuous journey, and who fears God, is despised by him who advances along a disreputable way.

³In the mouth of the foolish, there is a rod of arrogance. But the lips of the wise guard them.

⁴Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty. But where there are many crops, there the strength of the ox is manifest.

⁵A faithful witness will not lie. But a deceitful witness offers a lie.

⁶A mocker seeks wisdom and does not find it. The doctrine of the prudent is accessible.

⁷Go against a foolish man, and he does not acknowledge lips of prudence.

⁸The wisdom of a discerning man is to understand his way. And the imprudence of the foolish is to be wandering astray.

⁹The foolish will speak mockingly of sin. But grace lingers among the just.

¹⁰The heart that knows the bitterness of its own soul, in its gladness the outsider shall not meddle.

¹¹The house of the impious will be wiped away. Yet truly, the tabernacles of the just shall spring forth.

¹²There is a way which seems just to a man, but its conclusion leads to death.

¹³Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning occupies the limits of joy.

¹⁴The foolish will be filled up by his own ways. And the good man shall be above him.

¹⁵The innocent trust every word. The astute one considers his own steps. Nothing good will be for the deceitful son. But the wise servant shall act prosperously and his way will be set in order.

¹⁶The wise fear, and so turn away from evil. The foolish leap ahead with confidence.

¹⁷The impatient will work foolishness. And a resourceful man is hated.

¹⁸The childish will possess foolishness, and the discerning will anticipate knowledge.

¹⁹The evil will fall down before the good. And the impious will fall down before the gates of the just.

²⁰The pauper will be hated, even by his own neighbor. Yet truly, the friends of the wealthy are many.

²¹Whoever despises his neighbor, sins. But whoever pities the poor shall be blessed. Whoever trusts in the Lord loves mercy.

²²They wander astray who work evil. But mercy and truth prepare good things.

²³In every work, there shall be abundance. But where there are many words, there is often need.

²⁴The crown of the wise is their wealth. The senselessness of the foolish is imprudence.

²⁵A faithful witness frees souls. And the chameleon utters lies.

²⁶In the fear of the Lord is the faithfulness of strength, and there shall be hope for his sons.

²⁷The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, so as to turn aside from the ruin of death.

²⁸In a multitude of people, there is dignity for the king. And in a paucity of people, there is disgrace for the prince.

²⁹Whoever is patient is governed by much prudence. But whoever is impatient exalts his foolishness.

³⁰The well-being of the heart is life for the flesh. But envy is decay for the bones.

³¹Whoever slanders the indigent argues against his Maker. But he who has compassion on the poor honors his Maker.

³²The impious will be expelled in his malice. But the just finds hope even in his own death.

³³In the heart of the prudent, wisdom finds rest. And so shall he instruct all the uneducated.

³⁴Justice elevates a nation. But sin makes the peoples miserable.

³⁵An intelligent minister is acceptable to the king. Whoever is useless shall bear his wrath.

Proverbs 14

¹A wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish will pull down with her hands that also which is built.

²He that walketh in the right way, and feareth God, is despised by him that goeth by an infamous way.

³In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride: but the lips of the wise preserve them.

⁴Where there are no oxen, the crib is empty: but where there is much corn, there the strength of the ox is manifest.

⁵A faithful witness will not lie: but a deceitful witness uttereth a lie.

⁶A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: the learning of the wise is easy.

⁷Go against a foolish man, and he knoweth not the lips of prudence.

⁸The wisdom of a discreet man is to understand his way: and the imprudence of fools erreth.

⁹A fool will laugh at sin, but among the just grace shall abide.

¹⁰The heart that knoweth the bitterness of his own soul, in his joy the stranger shall not intermeddle.

¹¹The house of the wicked shall be destroyed: but the tabernacles of the just shall flourish.

¹²There is a way which seemeth just to a man: but the ends thereof lead to death.

¹³Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning taketh hold of the ends of joy.

¹⁴A fool shall be filled with his own ways, and the good man shall be above him.

¹⁵The 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.

¹⁶A wise man feareth, and declineth from evil: the fool leapeth over, and is confident.

¹⁷The impatient man shall work folly: and the crafty man is hateful.

¹⁸The childish shall possess folly, and the prudent shall look for knowledge.

¹⁹The evil shall fall down before the good: and the wicked before the gates of the just.

²⁰The poor man shall be hateful even to his own neighbour: but the friends of the rich are many.

²¹He that despiseth his neighbour, sinneth: but he that sheweth mercy to the poor, shall be blessed. He that believeth in the Lord, loveth mercy.

²²They err that work evil: but mercy and truth prepare good things.

²³In much work there shall be abundance: but where there are many words, there is oftentimes want.

²⁴The crown of the wise, is their riches: the folly of fools, imprudence.

²⁵A faithful witness delivereth souls: and the double dealer uttereth lies.

²⁶In the fear of the Lord is confidence of strength, and there shall be hope for his children.

²⁷The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to decline from the ruin of death.

²⁸In the multitude of people is the dignity of the king: and in the small number of the people the dishonour of the prince.

²⁹He that is patient, is governed with much wisdom: but he that is impatient, exalteth his folly.

³⁰Soundness of heart is the life of the flesh: but envy is the rottenness of the bones.

³¹He that oppresseth the poor, upbraideth his maker: but he that hath pity on the poor, honoureth him.

³²The wicked man shall be driven out in his wickedness: but the just hath hope in his death.

³³In the heart of the prudent resteth wisdom, and it shall instruct all the ignorant.

³⁴Justice exalteth a nation: but sin maketh nations miserable.

³⁵A wise servant is acceptable to the king: he that is good for nothing shall feel his anger.