Proverbs 14
1 Wise women build houses: but a
foolish one digs hers down with her hands.
2 He that walks uprightly fears the
Lord; but he that is perverse in his ways shall be dishonoured.
3 Out of the mouth of fools
comes a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise
preserve them. 4 Where no oxen are,
the cribs are clean; but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the
ox is apparent. 5 A faithful witness
does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.
6 Thou shalt seek wisdom with bad men,
and shalt not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.
7 All things are adverse to a foolish
man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
8 The wisdom of the prudent will
understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.
9 The houses of transgressors
aGr. shall owe. See Job 6. 21.will need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
10 If a
man's
bOr, heart be sensitive.mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no
fellowship with pride. 11 The houses
of ungodly men shall be utterly destroyed; but the tabernacles of them that
walk uprightly shall stand. 12 There
is a way which seems to be right with men, but the ends of it
cGr. come.reach to the depth of hell. 13 Grief
mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
14 A
dLit. bold-hearted.stout-hearted man shall be filled with his own ways;
and a good man with his own thoughts.
15 The simple believes every word:
but the prudent man betakes himself to after-thought.
16 A wise man fears, and departs from
evil; but the fool trusts in himself, and joins himself with the transgressor.
17 A passionate man acts
inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
18 Fools shall have mischief for
their portion; but the prudent shall take fast hold of understanding.
19 Evil men shall fall before the
good; and the ungodly shall attend at the gates of the righteous.
20 Friends will hate poor friends;
but the friends of the rich are many.
21 He that dishonours the needy sins:
but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
22 They that go astray devise evils:
but the good devise mercy and truth. The framers of evil do not understand
mercy and truth: but compassion and faithfulness are with the framers of good.
23 With every one
who is careful there is abundance: but the
pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in want.
24 A prudent man is the crown of the
wise: but the occupation of fools is evil.
25 A faithful witness shall deliver a
soul from evil: but a deceitful man kindles
falsehoods. 26 In the fear of the
Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
27 The commandment of the Lord is a
fountain of life; and it causes men to turn aside
from the snare of death.
28 In a populous nation is the glory
of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince.
29 A man slow to wrath abounds in
wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish.
30 A meek-spirited man is a healer of
the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones.
31 He that oppresses the needy
provokes his Maker: but he that honours him has pity upon the poor.
32 The ungodly shall be driven away
in his wickedness: but
eComp. Heb.he who is secure in his own holiness is just.
33 There is wisdom in the good heart
of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation: but
sins diminish tribes. 35 An
understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behaviour he
removes disgrace.