Proverbs 14

¹ Wisdom builds her house, but Folly tears hers down with her own hands.

² He who walks uprightly fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways spurns him.

³ In the mouth of the fool is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise preserve them.

⁴ Where there are no oxen, the crib remains empty; but large crops come through the strength of the bull.

⁵ A truthful witness does not lie, but a false witness utters lies.

⁶ The senseless man seeks in vain for wisdom, but knowledge is easy to the man of intelligence.

⁷ To avoid the foolish man, take steps! But knowing lips one meets with by surprise.

⁸ The shrewd man's wisdom gives him knowledge of his way, but the folly of fools is their deception.

⁹ Guilt lodges in the tents of the arrogant, but favor in the house of the just.

¹⁰ The heart knows its own bitterness, and in its joy no one else shares.

¹¹ The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.

¹² Sometimes a way seems right to a man, but the end of it leads to death!

¹³ Even in laughter the heart may be sad, and the end of joy may be sorrow.

¹⁴ The scoundrel suffers the consequences of his ways, and the good man reaps the fruit of his paths.

¹⁵ The simpleton believes everything, but the shrewd man measures his steps.

¹⁶ The wise man is cautious and shuns evil; the fool is reckless and sure of himself.

¹⁷ The quick-tempered man makes a fool of himself, but the prudent man is at peace.

¹⁸ The adornment of simpletons is folly, but shrewd men gain the crown of knowledge.

¹⁹ Evil men must bow down before the good, and the wicked, at the gates of the just.

²⁰ Even by his neighbor the poor man is hated, but the friends of the rich are many.

²¹ He sins who despises the hungry; but happy is he who is kind to the poor!

²² Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those intent on good gain kindness and constancy.

²³ In all labor there is profit, but mere talk tends only to penury.

²⁴ The crown of the wise is resourcefulness; the diadem of fools is folly.

²⁵ The truthful witness saves lives, but he who utters lies is a betrayer.

²⁶ In the fear of the LORD is a strong defense; even for one's children he will be a refuge.

²⁷ The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that a man may avoid the snares of death.

²⁸ In many subjects lies the glory of the king; but if his people are few, it is the prince's ruin.

²⁹ The patient man shows much good sense, but the quick-tempered man displays folly at its height.

³⁰ A tranquil mind gives life to the body, but jealousy rots the bones.

³¹ He who oppresses the poor blasphemes his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy glorifies him.

³² The wicked man is overthrown by his wickedness, but the just man finds a refuge in his honesty.

³³ In the heart of the intelligent wisdom abides, but in the bosom of fools it is unknown.

³⁴ Virtue exalts a nation, but sin is a people's disgrace.

³⁵ The king favors the intelligent servant, but the worthless one incurs his wrath.