NET Bible

The First Collection of Solomonic Proverbs1

^14:1 Every wise woman has built her household, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. ^14:2 The one who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but the one who is perverted in his ways despises him. ^14:3 In the speech of a fool is a rod for his back, but the words of the wise protect them. ^14:4 Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is clean, but an abundant harvest is produced by strong oxen. ^14:5 A truthful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. ^14:6 The scorner sought wisdom—there was none, but understanding was easy for a discerning person. ^14:7 Walk abreast with a foolish person, and you do not understand wise counsel. ^14:8 The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception. ^14:9 Fools mock at reparation, but among the upright there is favor. ^14:10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and with its joy no one else can share. ^14:11 The household of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. ^14:12 There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death. ^14:13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief. ^14:14 The backslider will be paid back from his own ways, but a good person will be rewarded for his. ^14:15 A naive person will believe anything, but the shrewd person discerns his steps. ^14:16 A wise person is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is overconfident. ^14:17 A person who has a quick temper will do foolish things, and a person with crafty schemes will be hated. ^14:18 The naive have inherited folly, but the shrewd will be crowned with knowledge. ^14:19 Bad people have bowed before good people, and wicked people have bowed at the gates of someone righteous. ^14:20 A poor person will be disliked even by his neighbors, but those who love the rich are many. ^14:21 The one who despises his neighbor sins, but whoever is kind to the needy is blessed. ^14:22 Do not those who devise evil go astray? But those who plan good exhibit faithful covenant love. ^14:23 In all hard work there is profit, but merely talking about it only brings poverty. ^14:24 The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools is folly. ^14:25 A truthful witness rescues lives, but one who testifies falsely betrays them. ^14:26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and it will be a refuge for his children. ^14:27 The fear of the Lord is like a life-giving fountain, to turn people from deadly snares. ^14:28 A king’s glory is the abundance of people, but the lack of subjects is the ruin of a ruler. ^14:29 Someone with great understanding is slow to anger, but the one who has a quick temper exalts folly. ^14:30 A tranquil spirit revives the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones. ^14:31 The one who oppresses the poor has insulted his Creator, but whoever honors him shows favor to the needy. ^14:32 An evil person will be thrown down through his wickedness, but a righteous person takes refuge in his integrity. ^14:33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; it is not known in the inner parts of fools. ^14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. ^14:35 The king shows favor to a wise servant, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.