Proverbs 14 Comparison: Wycliffe Bible (1395) vs King James Version
Proverbs 14
1A wijs womman bildith hir hous; and an unwijs womman schal distrie with hondis an hous bildid.
2A man goynge in riytful weie, and dredinge God, is dispisid of hym, that goith in a weie of yuel fame.
3The yerde of pride is in the mouth of a fool; the lippis of wijs men kepen hem.
4Where oxis ben not, the cratche is void; but where ful many cornes apperen, there the strengthe of oxe is opyn.
5A feithful witnesse schal not lie; a gileful witnesse bringith forth a leesing.
6A scornere sekith wisdom, and he fyndith not; the teching of prudent men is esy.
7Go thou ayens a man a fool; and he schal not knowe the lippis of prudence.
8The wisdom of a fel man is to vndirstonde his weie; and the vnwarnesse of foolis errith.
9A fool scorneth synne; grace schal dwelle among iust men.
10The herte that knowith the bittirnesse of his soule; a straunger schal not be meddlid in the ioie therof.
11The hous of wickid men schal be don awei; the tabernaclis of iust men schulen buriowne.
12Sotheli a weie is, that semeth iust to a man; but the laste thingis therof leden forth to deth.
13Leiyyng schal be medlid with sorewe; and morenyng ocupieth the laste thingis of ioye.
14A fool schal be fillid with hise weies; and a good man schal be aboue hym.
15An innocent man bileueth to eche word; a felle man biholdith hise goyngis.
16A wijs man dredith, and bowith awei fro yuel; a fool skippith ouer, and tristith.
17A man vnpacient schal worche foli; and a gileful man is odiouse.
18Litle men of wit schulen holde foli; and felle men schulen abide kunnyng.
19Yuel men schulen ligge bifor goode men; and vnpitouse men bifor the yatis of iust men.
20A pore man schal be hateful, yhe, to his neiybore; but many men ben frendis of riche men.
21He that dispisith his neiybore, doith synne; but he that doith merci to a pore man, schal be blessid. He that bileueth in the Lord, loueth merci;
22thei erren that worchen yuel. Merci and treuthe maken redi goodis;
23abundaunce `schal be in ech good werk. Sotheli where ful many wordis ben, there nedynesse is ofte.
24The coroun of wise men is the richessis of hem; the fooli of foolis is vnwarnesse.
25A feithful witnesse delyuereth soulis; and a fals man bringith forth leesyngis.
26In the drede of the Lord is triste of strengthe; and hope schal be to the sones of it.
27The drede of the Lord is a welle of lijf; that it bowe awei fro the fallyng of deth.
28The dignite of the king is in the multitude of puple; and the schenschipe of a prince is in the fewnesse of puple.
29He that is pacient, is gouerned bi myche wisdom; but he that is vnpacient, enhaunsith his foli.
30Helthe of herte is the lijf of fleischis; enuye is rot of boonys.
31He that falsli chalengith a nedi man, dispisith his maker; but he that hath merci on a pore man, onourith that makere.
32A wickid man is put out for his malice; but a iust man hopith in his deth.
33Wisdom restith in the herte of a wijs man; and he schal teche alle vnlerned men.
34Riytfulnesse reisith a folc; synne makith puplis wretchis.
35A mynystre vndurstondynge is acceptable to a kyng; a mynystre vnprofitable schal suffre the wrathfulnesse of him.
Proverbs 14
1Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
2He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
6A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
7Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
9Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
10The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
11The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
12There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
13Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
14The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
15The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
16A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
17He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
21He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
22Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
23In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
24The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
25A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
26In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
28In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
30A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
31He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
32The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
33Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
34Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
35The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
Understanding Wycliffe Bible (1395) vs King James Version in Proverbs 14
Wycliffe Bible (1395) (Wycliffe)
The first complete English translation of the Bible (1395) by John Wycliffe and his followers. Translated from the Latin Vulgate. A landmark in English history and the Reformation.
King James Version (KJV)
The classic 1611 English translation known for its majestic prose and literary influence. Ideal for traditional study and memorization thanks to its formal style. A foundational English Bible used for centuries.
You are viewing a side-by-side comparison of Proverbs 14 in the Wycliffe Bible (1395) and King James Version. Comparing these two versions can help shed light on the nuances of the original text.
Key Comparison: Proverbs 14:16
"A wijs man dredith, and bowith awei fro yuel; a fool skippith ouer, and tristith."
"A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident."
