| 1 | Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands. |
| 2 | He who walks in uprightness reverently
and
worshipfully fears the Lord, but he who is contrary
and
devious in his ways despises Him. |
| 3 | In the
[a]fool’s own mouth is a rod [to shame] his pride, but the wise men’s lips preserve them. |
| 4 | Where no oxen are, the grain crib is empty, but much increase [of crops] comes by the strength of the ox. |
| 5 | A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness breathes out falsehoods. |
| 6 | A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain [for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it], but knowledge is easy to him who [being teachable] understands. |
| 7 | Go from the presence of a foolish
and
self-confident man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips. |
| 8 | The Wisdom [godly Wisdom, which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of [self-confident] fools is to deceive. |
| 9 | Fools make a mock of sin
and
sin mocks the fools [who are its victims; a sin offering made by them only mocks them, bringing them disappointment and disfavor], but among the upright there is the favor of God. |
| 10 | The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy. |
| 11 | The house of the wicked shall be overthrown, but the tent of the upright shall flourish. |
| 12 | There is a way which seems right to a man
and
appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death. |
| 13 | Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of mirth is heaviness
and
grief. |
| 14 | The backslider in heart [from God and from fearing God] shall be filled with [the fruit of] his own ways, and a good man shall be satisfied with [the fruit of] his ways [with the holy thoughts and actions which his heart prompts and in which he delights]. |
| 15 | The simpleton believes every word he hears, but the prudent man looks
and
considers well where he is going. |
| 16 | A wise man suspects danger and cautiously avoids evil, but the fool bears himself insolently and is [presumptuously] confident. |
| 17 | He who foams up quickly
and
flies into a passion deals foolishly, and a man of wicked plots
and
plans is hated. |
| 18 | The simple acquire folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. |
| 19 | The evil men bow before the good, and the wicked [stand suppliantly] at the gates of the [uncompromisingly] righteous. |
| 20 | The poor is hated even by his own neighbor, but the rich has many friends. |
| 21 | He who despises his neighbor sins [against God, his fellowman, and himself], but happy (blessed and fortunate) is he who is kind
and
merciful to the poor. |
| 22 | Do they not err who devise evil
and
wander from the way of life? But loving-kindness
and
mercy, loyalty
and
faithfulness, shall be to those who devise good. |
| 23 | In all labor there is profit, but idle talk leads only to poverty. |
| 24 | The crown of the wise is their wealth of Wisdom, but the foolishness of [self-confident] fools is [nothing but] folly. |
| 25 | A truthful witness saves lives, but a deceitful witness speaks lies [and endangers lives]. |
| 26 | In the reverent
and
worshipful fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children shall always have a place of refuge. |
| 27 | Reverent
and
worshipful fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death. |
| 28 | In a multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in a lack of people is the prince’s ruin. |
| 29 | He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is hasty of spirit exposes
and
exalts his folly. |
| 30 | A calm
and
undisturbed mind
and
heart are the life
and
health of the body, but envy, jealousy,
and
wrath are like rottenness of the bones. |
| 31 | He who oppresses the poor reproaches, mocks,
and
insults his Maker, but he who is kind
and
merciful to the needy honors Him. |
| 32 | The wicked is overthrown through his wrongdoing
and
calamity, but the [consistently] righteous has hope
and
confidence even in death. |
| 33 | Wisdom rests [silently] in the mind
and
heart of him who has understanding, but that which is in the inward part of [self-confident] fools is made known. |
| 34 | Uprightness
and
right standing with God (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. |
| 35 | The king’s favor is toward a wise
and
discreet servant, but his wrath is against him who does shamefully. |
Cross references:
-
Proverbs 14:9 : Prov. 10:23.
-
Proverbs 14:27 : John 4:10, 14.
-
Proverbs 14:29 : Prov. 16:32; James 1:19.
-
Proverbs 14:31 : Prov. 17:5; Matt. 25:40, 45.
-
Proverbs 14:33 : Isa. 32:6.
-
Proverbs 14:35 : Matt. 24:45, 47.
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