Shared Word Translation
Proverbs 14
Wisdom Builds
A wise woman builds her house,
but Folly tears it down
with her own hands.
Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD,
but one whose ways are crooked
despises the LORD.
In the mouth of a fool
is a rod for pride,
but the lips of the wise
will guard them.
Where there are no oxen,
the manger is clean,
but abundant produce comes
through the strength of an ox.
A faithful witness does not lie,
but a false witness
breathes out lies.
A scoffer seeks wisdom
and finds none,
but knowledge comes easily
to the discerning.
Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you will not find
lips of knowledge.
The wisdom of the prudent
is to understand their way,
but the folly of fools
is deception.
Fools mock at guilt,
but among the upright
there is favor.
The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares fully
in its joy.
The Way That Seems Right
The house of the wicked
will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright
will flourish.
There is a way
that seems right to a person,
but its end
is the way of death.
Even in laughter
the heart may ache,
and the end of joy
may be grief.
The one who turns away in heart
will be filled with the fruit of their ways,
but a good person
with the fruit of their deeds.
The simple believe every word,
but the prudent
consider their steps.
The wise fear and turn away from evil,
but a fool is reckless
and overconfident.
One who is quick-tempered
acts foolishly,
and one who devises evil
is hated.
The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent
are crowned with knowledge.
The evil bow before the good,
and the wicked
at the gates of the righteous.
The poor are disliked
even by their neighbor,
but the rich have many friends.
Compassion for the Poor
Whoever despises a neighbor sins,
but blessed is the one
who shows favor to the poor.
Do not those who devise evil go astray?
But steadfast love and faithfulness
belong to those who devise good.
In all labor there is profit,
but mere talk
leads only to poverty.
The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the folly of fools
remains folly.
A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who breathes out lies
deceives.
The Fear of the LORD
In the fear of the LORD
there is strong confidence,
and there will be refuge
for one’s children.
The fear of the LORD
is a fountain of life,
turning a person away
from the snares of death.
In a multitude of people
is a king’s glory,
but without people
a ruler is ruined.
Whoever is slow to anger
has great understanding,
but one who is quick-tempered
exalts folly.
A tranquil heart
gives life to the body,
but jealousy
rots the bones.
Whoever oppresses the poor
insults their Maker,
but whoever honors God
shows favor to the needy.
The wicked are overthrown
by their own evil,
but the righteous find refuge
even in death.
Wisdom rests
in the heart of the discerning,
but what is among fools
becomes known.
Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace
to any people.
A king’s favor is toward
a servant who acts wisely,
but wrath falls upon
one who brings shame.