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Proverbs 14

¹Wisdom builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.

²He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways despises him.

³The talk of a fool is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

⁴Where there are no oxen, there is no grain; but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

⁵A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.

⁶A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

⁷Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

⁸The wisdom of a prudent man is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.

⁹God scorns the wicked, but the upright enjoy his favor.

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

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

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

¹³Even in laughter the heart is sad, and the end of joy is grief.

¹⁴A perverse man will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man with the fruit of his deeds.

¹⁵The simple believes everything, but the prudent looks where he is going.

¹⁶A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is careless.

¹⁷A man of quick temper acts foolishly, but a man of discretion is patient.

¹⁸The simple acquire folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

¹⁹The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

²⁰The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.

²¹He who despises his neighbor is a sinner, but happy is he who is kind to the poor.

²²Do they not err that devise evil? Those who devise good meet loyalty and faithfulness.

²³In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to want.

²⁴The crown of the wise is their wisdom, but folly is the garland of fools.

²⁵A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is a betrayer.

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

²⁷The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.

²⁸In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.

²⁹He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

³⁰A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh, but passion makes the bones rot.

³¹He who oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.

³²The wicked is overthrown through his evil-doing, but the righteous finds refuge through his integrity.

³³Wisdom abides in the mind of a man of understanding, but it is not known in the heart of fools.

³⁴Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

³⁵A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

Proverbs 14 (RSV)

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Proverbs

Chapter 14

14 of 31