Proverbs 14:1-33 - Wise People Live Righteously

¹ Every wise woman builds her house,
but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

² Whoever lives with integrity fears the Lord,
but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.

³ The proud speech of a fool brings a rod of discipline,
but the lips of the wise protect them.

⁴ Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty,
but an abundant harvest comes
through the strength of an ox.

⁵ An honest witness does not deceive,
but a dishonest witness utters lies.

⁶ A mocker seeks wisdom and doesn’t find it,
but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive.

⁷ Stay away from a foolish man;
you will gain no knowledge from his speech.

⁸ The sensible man’s wisdom is to consider his way,
but the stupidity of fools deceives them.

⁹ Fools mock at making restitution,
but there is goodwill among the upright.

¹⁰ The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no outsider shares in its joy.

¹¹ The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will stand.

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

¹³ Even in laughter a heart may be sad,
and joy may end in grief.

¹⁴ The disloyal one will get what his conduct deserves,
and a good man, what his deeds deserve.

¹⁵ The inexperienced one believes anything,
but the sensible one watches his steps.

¹⁶ A wise man is cautious and turns from evil,
but a fool is easily angered and is careless.

¹⁷ A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
and a man who schemes is hated.

¹⁸ The inexperienced inherit foolishness,
but the sensible are crowned with knowledge.

¹⁹ The evil bow before those who are good,
the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.

²⁰ A poor man is hated even by his neighbor,
but there are many who love the rich.

²¹ The one who despises his neighbor sins,
but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.

²² Don’t those who plan evil go astray?
But those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.

²³ There is profit in all hard work,
but endless talk leads only to poverty.

²⁴ The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the foolishness of fools produces foolishness.

²⁵ A truthful witness rescues lives,
but one who utters lies is deceitful.

²⁶ In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence
and his children have a refuge.

²⁷ The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning people away from the snares of death.

²⁸ A large population is a king’s splendor,
but a shortage of people is a ruler’s devastation.

²⁹ A patient person shows great understanding,
but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.

³⁰ A tranquil heart is life to the body,
but jealousy is rottenness to the bones.

³¹ The one who oppresses the poor person insults his Maker,
but one who is kind to the needy honors Him.

³² The wicked one is thrown down by his own sin,
but the righteous one has a refuge in his death.

³³ Wisdom resides in the heart of the discerning;
she is known even among fools.