Proverbs 14

1  a The wisest of women b builds her house,
but folly with her own hands c tears it down.
 2 Whoever d walks in uprightness fears the  Lord,
but he who is e devious in his ways despises him.
 3 By the mouth of a fool comes f a rod for his back ▼
▼ Or In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride

h but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
 4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
 5  i A faithful witness does not lie,
but j a false witness breathes out lies.
 6  k A scoffer seeks wisdom l in vain,
but m knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
 7 Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools is deceiving.
 9  n Fools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance. ▼
▼ Hebrew  but among the upright is acceptance

 10 The heart knows its own p bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.
 11  q The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
 12  r There is a way that seems right to a man,
but s its end is the way to death. ▼
▼ Hebrew ways of death

 13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and u the end of joy may be v grief.
 14 The backslider in heart will be w filled with the fruit of his ways,
and x a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
 15  y The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
 16  z One who is wise is cautious ▼
▼ Or fears [the  Lord]
 and ab turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
 17 A man of ac quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
 18 The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
 19  ad The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
 20  ae The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
af but the rich has many friends.
 21 Whoever ag despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but ah blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
 22 Do they not go astray who ai devise evil?
Those who devise good meet ▼
▼ Or show
 ak steadfast love and faithfulness.
 23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk al tends only to poverty.
 24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the folly of fools brings folly.
 25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who am breathes out lies is deceitful.
 26 In the fear of the  Lord one has an strong confidence,
and ao his children will have ap a refuge.
 27 The fear of the  Lord is aq a fountain of life,
that one may ar turn away from the snares of death.
 28 In as a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
but without people a prince is ruined.
 29 Whoever is at slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
 30 A tranquil ▼
▼ Or healing
 heart gives av life to the flesh,
but aw envy ▼
▼ Or jealousy
 makes ay the bones rot.
 31 Whoever oppresses a poor man az insults his ba Maker,
bb but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
 32  bc The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
but bd the righteous finds refuge in his death.
 33 Wisdom be rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. ▼
▼ Or  Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools

 34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
 35 A servant who deals wisely has bg the king’s favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
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