Proverbs 14

The wise woman builds her house

The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.a ²Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways. ³A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.

⁴Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests. ⁵An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. ⁶The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

⁷Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips.b ⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.c ⁹Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.

¹⁰Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy. ¹¹The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.d ¹²There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.e

¹³Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief. ¹⁴The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs.f ¹⁵The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.g

¹⁶The wise fear the Lord and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.h ¹⁷A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.i ¹⁸The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

¹⁹Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. ²⁰The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends. ²¹It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.

²²Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness. ²³All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.j ²⁴The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields folly.

²⁵A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful. ²⁶Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.k ²⁷The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.

²⁸A large population is a king’s glory, but without subjects a prince is ruined. ²⁹Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.l ³⁰A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.m

³¹Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.n ³²When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God. ³³Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known.

³⁴Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.o ³⁵A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant arouses his fury.