Proverbs 14

The wise woman builds her house

Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her own 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 uttereth lies. ⁶A scorner seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it ]not: but knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.

⁷Go into the presence of a foolish man, and thou shalt not perceive [in him ]the lips of knowledge. ⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit. ⁹The foolish make a mock at guilt: but among the upright there is good will.

¹⁰The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy. ¹¹The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tent 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 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 beareth himself insolently, and is confident. ¹⁷He that is soon angry will deal 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 pity 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 folly of fools is [only ]folly.

²⁵A true witness delivereth souls: but he that uttereth lies [causeth ]deceit. 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 glory: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince. ²⁹He that is slow to anger is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. ³⁰A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy is the rottenness of the bones.

³¹He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that hath mercy on the needy honoureth him. ³²The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing: but the righteous hath hope in his death. ³³Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but [that which is ]in the inward part of fools is made known.

³⁴Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. ³⁵The king’s favour is toward a servant that dealeth wisely: but his wrath shall be [against ]him that causeth shame.