Proverbs Chapter 14

¹ A wise woman builds up her home;

a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

                  ²We show respect for the LORD by pursuing godliness;

            being crooked in our ways means we don’t respect him.

³ The tongues of fools become a rod for their back;

the lips of the wise save them.

                  ⁴A manger stays clean where there are no oxen,

            but abundant crops come in by their strength.

⁵ A truthful witness tells no lies;

a false one lies with every breath.

                  ⁶Scoffers look for wisdom but don’t find it;

            knowledge comes easy for insightful people.           

Prov 14:1-6

⁷ Stay away from foolish people;

you won’t learn anything from them.

                  ⁸Prudent people know where they’re going,

            but fools mislead themselves.

⁹ Fools make fun of guilt,

but the godly favor the guiltless.

                  ¹⁰The heart knows its bitterness;

            no one else can share its joy.

¹¹ The house of the sinful faces demolition,

but the tent of the godly stands steady.

                  ¹²There is a way that seems right,                 

            but it leads to death.                                                   

Prov 14:7-12

¹³ Laughter can hide a heavy heart;

joy can give way to grief.

                  ¹⁴Perverse people get a fill of their own ways;

            good people get satisfaction from theirs.

¹⁵ Simpleminded people believe anything,

the prudent watch where they step.

                  ¹⁶The wise take caution and get away from sin,

            but fools are arrogant and reckless.

¹⁷ Short-tempered people do foolish things;

people despise people that scheme.

                  ¹⁸The naïve inherit foolishness,

            but the prudent wear knowledge like a crown.          

Prov 14:13-18

¹⁹ Evil bows to good;

sinners will bow at the gates of the godly.

                  ²⁰Even neighbors dislike the poor,

            but lots of people like the rich.

²¹ Whoever despises another commits sin,

but those gracious to the poor find happiness.

                  ²²Won’t they take a loss that devise evil?

            Those who devise good receive kindness and truth.

²³ There’s profit in work;

mere talk produces poverty.

                  ²⁴The wise wear their wealth like a crown;

            the foolish dress in their own foolishness.                

Prov 14:19-24

²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives,

but a false witness is a traitor.

                  ²⁶Those who respect the LORD feel confident;

            their children have a reliable refuge.

²⁷ Respecting the LORD provides a fountain of life

so people can avoid the snares of death.

                  ²⁸A growing population speaks well for a king;

            what’s the point of a prince without subjects?

²⁹ Wise people control their temper;  

short-tempered people show their lack of good sense.

                  ³⁰A peaceful heart makes a healthy body,

            but jealousy is like cancer of the bone.                     

Prov 14:25-30

³¹ People that oppress the poor insult their Maker;

those who are gracious to them honor him.

                  ³²Sinful people get crushed by the disasters

                  they bring on themselves,

            but the righteous have a refuge when they die.

³³ Wisdom rests in intelligent people,

but it’s not evident among fools.

                  ³⁴Goodness raises the quality of a nation;

            sin’s a disgrace to any people.

³⁵ A king favors a servant that acts wisely,

but he lashes out at one that disgraces him.                          

Prov 14:31-35