Proverbs 14

The Wise Woman

¹Every wise woman builds her house,

but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

²He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD,

but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.

³The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back,

but the lips of the wise protect them.

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

but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.

⁵An honest witness does not deceive,

but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.

⁶A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,

but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

⁷Stay away from a foolish man;

you will gain no knowledge from his speech.

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

but the folly of fools deceives them.

⁹Fools mock the making of amends,

but goodwill is found among the upright.

¹⁰The heart knows its own bitterness,

and no stranger shares in its joy.

¹¹The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

but the tent of the upright will flourish.

¹²There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way of death.

¹³Even in laughter the heart may ache,

and joy may end in sorrow.

¹⁴The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways,

but a good man is rewarded for his ways.

¹⁵The simple man believes every word,

but the prudent man watches his steps.

¹⁶A wise man fears and turns from evil,

but a fool is careless and reckless.

¹⁷A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,

and a devious man 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 man is hated even by his neighbor,

but many are those who love the rich.

²¹He who despises his neighbor sins,

but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.

²²Do not those who contrive evil go astray?

But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness.

²³There is profit in all labor,

but mere talk leads only to poverty.

²⁴The crown of the wise is their wealth,

but the effort of fools is folly.

²⁵A truthful witness saves lives,

but one who utters lies is deceitful.

²⁶He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence,

and his children shall have a place of refuge.1

²⁷The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,

turning a man from the snares of death.

²⁸A large population is a king’s splendor,

but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.1

²⁹A patient man has great understanding,

but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.

³⁰A tranquil heart is life to the body,

but envy rots the bones.

³¹Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker,

but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.

³²The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin,

but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.

³³Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning;

even among fools she is known.

³⁴Righteousness exalts a nation,

but sin is a disgrace to any people.

³⁵A king delights in a wise servant,

but his anger falls on the shameful.