Proverbs 14 (RV)

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

2He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.

3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.

4Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.

5A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness uttereth lies.An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.

6A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

7Go into the presence of a foolish man, and thou shalt not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.

8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.

9The foolish make a mock at guilt: but among the upright there is good will.Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright.

10The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares in its joy.

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

12There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

13Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of mirth is heaviness.Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow.

14The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways.

15The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.

16A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.

17He that is soon angry will deal foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man is hated.

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

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

20The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich.

21He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.

22Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness.

23In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

24The crown of the wise is their riches: but the folly of fools is only folly.The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly.

25A true witness delivereth souls: but he that uttereth lies causeth deceit.A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful.

26In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.

27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.

28In the multitude of people is the king’s glory: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.A large population is a king’s splendor, but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.

29He that is slow to anger is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.

30A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy is the rottenness of the bones.A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

31He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that hath mercy on the needy honoureth him.Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.

32The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing: but the righteous hath hope in his death.The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.

33Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the inward part of fools is made known.Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; even among fools she is known.

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

35The king’s favour is toward a servant that dealeth wisely: but his wrath shall be against him that causeth shame.A king delights in a wise servant, but his anger falls on the shameful.

Proverbs 14

The Wise Woman