Proverbs 14

14 ¹The wisest of women builds her house, but foolishness tears hers down with her own hands. ²Whoever walks in uprightness fears our Father, but one whose ways are crooked despises him. ³A fool's mouth is a rod for his own pride, but the lips of the wise protect them. ⁴Where there are no oxen, the manger stays clean, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of an ox. ⁵A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. ⁶The scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. ⁷Stay away from a fool, for you will find no knowledge on his lips. ⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to discern their way, but the foolishness of fools is deceit. ⁹Fools mock the guilt offering, but among the upright there is favor. ¹⁰The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares in its joy. ¹¹The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. ¹²There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way of death. ¹³Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief. ¹⁴The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good person with the fruit of his. ¹⁵The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps. ¹⁶The wise fear and turn away from evil, but a fool is reckless and overconfident. ¹⁷A quick-tempered person acts foolishly, and one who plots evil schemes is hated. ¹⁸The simple inherit foolishness, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. ¹⁹The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. ²⁰The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends. ²¹Whoever despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is the one who is kind to the poor. ²²Do not those who plot evil go astray? But covenant love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good. ²³In all hard work there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. ²⁴The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the foolishness of fools yields only foolishness. ²⁵A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is treacherous. ²⁶In the fear of our Father is strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. ²⁷The fear of our Father is a fountain of life, turning a person away from the snares of death. ²⁸A large population is a king's glory, but without people a prince is ruined. ²⁹Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but a hot temper exalts foolishness. ³⁰A tranquil heart gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. ³¹Whoever oppresses the poor reproaches our Father, their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors him. ^a a v31 To wrong the poor is to insult the Father who made them — every needy person bears the dignity of his handiwork. ³²The wicked are brought down by their own evil, but the righteous find refuge even in death. ³³Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning, but even among fools it makes itself known. ³⁴Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. ³⁵A king's favor rests on a wise servant, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.