14:1 Every wise woman1 builds2 her household,3
but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.
14:2 The one who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,4
but the one who is perverted in his ways5 despises him.
14:3 In6 the mouth7 of a fool is a rod for the back,8
but the words9 of the wise protect them.
14:4 Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is clean,
but an abundant harvest is produced by strong oxen.10
14:5 A truthful witness11 does not lie,
but a false witness12 breathes out lies.13
14:6 The scorner14 seeks wisdom but finds none,15
but understanding is easy16 for a discerning person.
14:7 Leave the presence of a foolish person,17
or18 you will not understand19 wise counsel.20
14:8 The wisdom of the shrewd person21 is to discern22 his way,
but the folly of fools is deception.23
14:9 Fools mock24 at reparation,25
but among the upright there is favor.26
14:10 The heart knows its own bitterness,27
and with its joy no one else28 can share.29
14:11 The household30 of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent31 of the upright will flourish.
14:12 There is a way that seems right to a person,32
but its end is the way of death.33
14:13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,34
and the end35 of joy may be36 grief.
14:14 The backslider37 will have his fill38 from his own ways,
but a good person will be rewarded39 for his.
14:15 A naive person40 believes everything,
but the shrewd person discerns his steps.41
14:16 A wise person is cautious42 and turns from evil,
but a fool throws off restraint43 and is overconfident.44
14:17 A person who has a quick temper45 does foolish things,
and a person with crafty schemes46 is hated.47
14:18 The naive inherit48 folly,
but the shrewd49 are crowned50 with knowledge.
14:19 Those who are evil will bow51 before those who are good,
and the wicked will bow52 at the gates53 of the righteous.
14:20 A poor person is disliked54 even by his neighbors,
but those who love the rich are many.
14:21 The one who despises his neighbor sins,
but whoever is kind to the needy is blessed.
14:22 Do not those who devise55 evil go astray?
but those who plan good exhibit56 faithful covenant love.57
14:23 In all hard work58 there is profit,
but merely talking about it59 only brings60 poverty.61
14:24 The crown of the wise is their riches,62
but the folly63 of fools is folly.
14:25 A truthful witness64 rescues lives,65
but the one who breathes lies brings66 deception.67
14:26 In the fear of the Lord one has68 strong confidence,69
and it will be a refuge70 for his children.
14:27 The fear of the Lord71 is like72 a life-giving fountain,73
to turn74 people75 from deadly snares.76
14:28 A king’s glory is77 the abundance of people,
but the lack of people is the ruin78 of a ruler.
14:29 The one who is slow to anger has great understanding,
but the one who has a quick temper79 exalts80 folly.
14:30 A tranquil spirit81 revives the body,82
but envy83 is rottenness to the bones.84
14:31 The one who oppresses85 the poor insults86 his Creator,
but whoever shows favor87 to the needy honors him.
14:32 The wicked will be thrown down in his trouble,88
but the righteous have refuge89 even in the threat of death.90
14:33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning;
it is known91 even in the heart92 of fools.
14:34 Righteousness exalts93 a nation,
but sin is a disgrace94 to any people.
14:35 The king shows favor95 to a wise96 servant,
but his wrath falls97 on one who acts shamefully.