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14 Every wise woman builds her house,
    but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
    but he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride,
    but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean;
    but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

A faithful witness will not lie,
    but a false witness will utter lies.

A scorner seeks wisdom and does not find it,
    but knowledge is easy to him who understands.

Go from the presence of a foolish man,
    when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
    but the folly of fools is deceit.

Fools make a mock at sin,
    but among the righteous there is favor.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
    and a stranger does not share its joy.

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

12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful,
    and the end of that cheer is grief.

14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,
    but a good man will be satisfied with his.

15 The simple believes every word,
    but the prudent man considers his steps.

16 A wise man fears and departs from evil,
    but the fool rages and is self-confident.

17 He who is quick-tempered deals 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 by his own neighbor,
    but the rich has many friends.

21 He who despises his neighbor sins,
    but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

22 Do they not err who devise evil?
    But mercy and truth will be to those who devise good.

23 In all labor there is profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
    but the foolishness of fools is folly.

25 A true witness delivers souls,
    but a deceitful witness speaks lies.

26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence,
    and His children will 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 a king’s honor,
    but in the lack of people is the destruction of a prince.

29 He who is slow to wrath is of great understanding,
    but he who is hasty of spirit exalts folly.

30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh,
    but envy the rottenness of the bones.

31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
    but he who honors Him has mercy on the poor.

32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness,
    but the righteous has hope in his death.

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
    but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
    but sin is a reproach to any people.

35 The king’s favor is toward a wise servant,
    but his wrath is against him who causes shame.

14 The wise woman builds her house,(A)
    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
    but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,(B)
    but the lips of the wise protect them.(C)

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
    but from the strength of an ox(D) come abundant harvests.

An honest witness does not deceive,
    but a false witness pours out lies.(E)

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.(F)

Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,(G)
    but the folly of fools is deception.(H)

Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,(I)
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.(J)

12 There is a way that appears to be right,(K)
    but in the end it leads to death.(L)

13 Even in laughter(M) the heart may ache,
    and rejoicing may end in grief.

14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,(N)
    and the good rewarded for theirs.(O)

15 The simple believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps.(P)

16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,(Q)
    but a fool(R) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

17 A quick-tempered person(S) does foolish things,(T)
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.(U)

18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
    and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.(V)

20 The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
    but the rich have many friends.(W)

21 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,(X)
    but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.(Y)

22 Do not those who plot evil go astray?(Z)
    But those who plan what is good find[a] love and faithfulness.

23 All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

24 The wealth of the wise is their crown,
    but the folly of fools yields folly.(AA)

25 A truthful witness saves lives,
    but a false witness is deceitful.(AB)

26 Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,(AC)
    and for their children it will be a refuge.(AD)

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,(AE)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(AF)

28 A large population is a king’s glory,
    but without subjects a prince is ruined.(AG)

29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,(AH)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.(AI)

30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.(AJ)

31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,(AK)
    but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.(AL)

32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,(AM)
    but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.(AN)

33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning(AO)
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.[b]

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,(AP)
    but sin condemns any people.

35 A king delights in a wise servant,
    but a shameful servant arouses his fury.(AQ)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:22 Or show
  2. Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known