Proverbs 14

14 ¹ The wisest of women builds her house, but folly tears hers down with her own hands. ² Whoever walks in uprightness fears our Father, but one whose ways are crooked despises him. ³ A fool's mouth is a rod for his own pride, but the lips of the wise protect them. ⁴ Where there are no oxen, the manger stays clean, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of an ox. ⁵ A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. ⁶ The scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. ⁷ Stay away from a fool, for you will find no knowledge on his lips. ⁸ The wisdom of the prudent is to discern their way, but the folly of fools is deceit. ⁹ Fools mock the guilt offering, but among the upright there is favor. ¹⁰ The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares in its joy. ¹¹ The house 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 of death. ¹³ Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief. ¹⁴ The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good person with the fruit of his. ¹⁵ The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps. ¹⁶ The wise fear and turn away from evil, but a fool is reckless and overconfident. ¹⁷ A quick-tempered person acts foolishly, and one who plots evil schemes is hated. ¹⁸ The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. ¹⁹ The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. ²⁰ The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends. ²¹ Whoever despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is the one who is kind to the poor. ²² Do not those who plot evil go astray? But covenant love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good. ²³ In all hard work there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. ²⁴ The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools yields only folly. ²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is treacherous. ²⁶ In the fear of our Father is strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. ²⁷ The fear of our Father is a fountain of life, turning a person away from the snares of death. ²⁸ A large population is a king's glory, but without people a prince is ruined. ²⁹ Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but a hot temper exalts folly. ³⁰ A tranquil heart gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. ³¹ Whoever oppresses the poor reproaches our Father, their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors him. ^a a v31 To wrong the poor is to insult the Father who made them — every needy person bears the dignity of his handiwork. ³² The wicked are brought down by their own evil, but the righteous find refuge even in death. ³³ Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning, but even among fools it makes itself known. ³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. ³⁵ A king's favor rests on a wise servant, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.