Proverbs 14 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 14 ▼
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CPDV
Catholic Public Domain Version
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
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1 A wise woman builds up her household. But a foolish one will pull down with her own hands what has been built up. The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
2 One who walks on a virtuous journey, and who fears God, is despised by him who advances along a disreputable way. Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways despises him. Whoever fears the LORD walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways.
3 In the mouth of the foolish, there is a rod of arrogance. But the lips of the wise guard them. By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them. A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty. But where there are many crops, there the strength of the ox is manifest. Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.
5 A faithful witness will not lie. But a deceitful witness offers a lie. A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.
6 A mocker seeks wisdom and does not find it. The doctrine of the prudent is accessible. A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
7 Go against a foolish man, and he does not acknowledge lips of prudence. Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips.
8 The wisdom of a discerning man is to understand his way. And the imprudence of the foolish is to be wandering astray. The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving. The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.
9 The foolish will speak mockingly of sin. But grace lingers among the just. Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance. Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.
10 The heart that knows the bitterness of its own soul, in its gladness the outsider shall not meddle. The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy. Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.
11 The house of the impious will be wiped away. Yet truly, the tabernacles of the just shall spring forth. The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way which seems just to a man, but its conclusion leads to death. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
13 Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning occupies the limits of joy. Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief. Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief.
14 The foolish will be filled up by his own ways. And the good man shall be above him. The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways. The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs.
15 The innocent trust every word. The astute one considers his own steps. Nothing good will be for the deceitful son. But the wise servant shall act prosperously and his way will be set in order. The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.
16 The wise fear, and so turn away from evil. The foolish leap ahead with confidence. One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
17 The impatient will work foolishness. And a resourceful man is hated. A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated. A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.
18 The childish will possess foolishness, and the discerning will anticipate knowledge. The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil will fall down before the good. And the impious will fall down before the gates of the just. The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous. Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The pauper will be hated, even by his own neighbor. Yet truly, the friends of the wealthy are many. The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends. The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.
21 Whoever despises his neighbor, sins. But whoever pities the poor shall be blessed. Whoever trusts in the Lord loves mercy. Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.
22 They wander astray who work evil. But mercy and truth prepare good things. Do they not go astray who devise evil? Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness. Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.
23 In every work, there shall be abundance. But where there are many words, there is often need. In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth. The senselessness of the foolish is imprudence. The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly. The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields folly.
25 A faithful witness frees souls. And the chameleon utters lies. A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful. A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord is the faithfulness of strength, and there shall be hope for his sons. In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, so as to turn aside from the ruin of death. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.
28 In a multitude of people, there is dignity for the king. And in a paucity of people, there is disgrace for the prince. In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined. A large population is a king’s glory, but without subjects a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is patient is governed by much prudence. But whoever is impatient exalts his foolishness. Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
30 The well-being of the heart is life for the flesh. But envy is decay for the bones. A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
31 Whoever slanders the indigent argues against his Maker. But he who has compassion on the poor honors his Maker. Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
32 The impious will be expelled in his malice. But the just finds hope even in his own death. The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death. When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.
33 In the heart of the prudent, wisdom finds rest. And so shall he instruct all the uneducated. Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known.
34 Justice elevates a nation. But sin makes the peoples miserable. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.
35 An intelligent minister is acceptable to the king. Whoever is useless shall bear his wrath. A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully. A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant arouses his fury.
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