Proverbs

The Proverbs, chapter 14, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 14 New English Translation

   1 Every wise woman builds her household, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.
   2 The one who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is perverted in his ways despises him.
   3 In the speech of a fool is a rod for his back, but the words of the wise protect them.
   4 Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is clean, but an abundant harvest is produced by strong oxen.
   5 A truthful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.
   6 The scorner seeks wisdom but finds none, but understanding is easy for a discerning person.
   7 Leave the presence of a foolish person, or you will not understand wise counsel.
   8 The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.
   9 Fools mock at reparation, but among the upright there is favor.
   10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and with its joy no one else can share.
   11 The household of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
   12 There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death.
   13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.
   14 The backslider will be paid back from his own ways, but a good person will be rewarded for his.
   15 A naive person believes everything, but the shrewd person discerns his steps.
   16 A wise person is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is overconfident.
   17 A person who has a quick temper does foolish things, and a person with crafty schemes is hated.
   18 The naive inherit folly, but the shrewd are crowned with knowledge.
   19 Those who are evil will bow before those who are good, and the wicked will bow at the gates of the righteous.
   20 A poor person is disliked even by his neighbors, but those who love the rich are many.
   21 The one who despises his neighbor sins, but whoever is kind to the needy is blessed.
   22 Do not those who devise evil go astray? But those who plan good exhibit faithful covenant love.
   23 In all hard work there is profit, but merely talking about it only brings poverty.
   24 The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools is folly.
   25 A truthful witness rescues lives, but the one who breathes lies brings deception.
   26 In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and it will be a refuge for his children.
   27 The fear of the LORD is like a life-giving fountain, to turn people from deadly snares.
   28 A king's glory is the abundance of people, but the lack of subjects is the ruin of a ruler.
   29 The one who is slow to anger has great understanding, but the one who has a quick temper exalts folly.
   30 A tranquil spirit revives the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.
   31 The one who oppresses the poor insults his Creator, but whoever shows favor to the needy honors him.
   32 The wicked will be thrown down in his trouble, but the righteous have refuge even in the threat of death.
   33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; it is known even in the heart of fools.
   34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
   35 The king shows favor to a wise servant, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

King James Version

   1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
   2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
   3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
   4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
   5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
   6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
   7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
   8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
   9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
   10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
   11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
   12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
   13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
   14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
   15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
   16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
   17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
   18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
   19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
   20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
   21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
   22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
   23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
   24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
   25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
   26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
   27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
   28 In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
   29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
   30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
   31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
   32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
   33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
   34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
   35 The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.