Proverbs 14

1 The wise among women buildeth her house; but the foolish pulleth it down with her own hands.

Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

2 In his uprightness walketh he that feareth the Lord; but perverse in his ways is he that despiseth him.

He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but [he that is] perverse in his ways despiseth him.

3 In the mouth of the foolish is a stick [for his] pride; but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

In the mouth of the foolish [is] a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

4 Where no oxen are, is the crib clean; but the abundance of harvests is [only] through the strength of the ox.

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

5 A faithful witness will not lie; but a false witness constantly uttereth lies.

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

6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none; but knowledge is easy to the man of understanding.

A scorner seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not: but knowledge [is] easy to him that understandeth.

7 Go far away from a foolish man, else thou wilt [never] know the lips of knowledge.

Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not [in him] the lips of knowledge.

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

The wisdom of the prudent [is] to understand his way: but the folly of fools [is] deceit.

9 The fool maketh a mockery of guilt; but among the upright there is good will.

Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous [there is] favor.

10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and with its joy can no stranger intermeddle.

The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed: but the tent of the upright will flourish.

The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

12 There is many a way which seemeth even before a man; but its end are ways unto death.

There is a way which seemeth right to a man, but the end of it [are] the ways of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart feeleth pain; and at its end joy is sorrow.

Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth [is] heaviness.

14 The backslider in heart will have enough of his own ways; and from him [departeth] the good men.

The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.

15 The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man understandeth his steps.

The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

16 A wise man is fearful, and departeth from evil; but the fool exciteth himself, and is confident.

A wise [man] feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

17 He that is soon angry committeth folly; and a man of wicked devices is hated.

[He that is] soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

18 The simple inherit folly; but the prudent crown themselves with knowledge.

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

19 The bad sink down before the good; and the wicked are at the gates of the righteous.

The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 Even to his own neighbor is the poor man hateful; but the friends of the rich are many.

The poor is hated even by his own neighbor: but the rich [hath] many friends.

21 He that despiseth his neighbor is a sinner; but he that is gracious to the poor—happiness attend him!

He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy [is] he.

22 Behold, those who contrive evil are in error; but kindness and truth attend on those who contrive what is good.

Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth [shall be] to them that devise good.

23 In all painful labor there is profit; but mere words of the lips [lead] only to want.

In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches; but the folly of fools is [only] folly.

The crown of the wise [is] their riches: [but] the foolishness of fools [is] folly.

25 A deliverer of souls is the true witness; but a witness of deceit uttereth lies.

A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful [witness] speaketh lies.

26 In the fear of the Lord is the strong confidence [of man], and unto his children will it be a place of shelter.

In the fear of the LORD [is] strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

27 The fear of the Lord is the source of life, [teaching] to avoid the snares of death.

The fear of the LORD [is] a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

28 In the multitude of people is the king's glory; but in the want of a population is the downfall of the prince.

In the multitude of people [is] the king's honor: but in the want of people [is] the destruction of the prince.

29 He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit holdeth up [to view] his folly.

[He that is] slow to wrath [is] of great understanding: but [he that is] hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

30 A sound heart is the life of the body; but jealousy is the rottenness of the bones.

A sound heart [is] the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

31 He that oppresseth the poor blasphemeth his Maker; but he that is gracious to the needy honoreth him.

He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoreth him hath mercy on the poor.

32 Through his own evil is the wicked thrust down; but even in his death doth the righteous have confidence.

The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

33 In the heart of the man of understanding resteth wisdom: but [the little which is] in the bosom of fools is made known.

Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but [that which is] in the midst of fools is made known.

34 Righteousness exalteth a people; but the disgrace of nations is sin.

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin [is] a reproach to any people.

35 The king's favor is bestowed on an intelligent servant; but his wrath is against him that deserveth shame.

The king's favor [is] towards a wise servant: but his wrath is [against] him that causeth shame.