Proverbs 14 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 14 ▼
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1 Every wise woman builds up her household, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands. 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 Someone whose conduct is upright fears the LORD, but whoever is devious in his ways despises him. 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 What a fool says brings a rod to his back, but the words of the wise protect 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 clean, but profits come through the strength of the ox. 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 trustworthy witness does not deceive, but a false witness spews lies. 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 finds none, but learning comes easily to someone who understands. 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 Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find competent advice. 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 the prudent helps him know how to live, but a fool's stupidity deceives him. 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 Fools make fun of guilt, but among the upright there are good intentions. 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 knows its own bitterness— an outsider cannot share in its joy. 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 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. The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a pathway that seems right to a man, but in the end it's a road 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 Even in laughter there may be heartache, and at the end of joy there may be grief. 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 faithless one will pay for his behavior, but a good man will be rewarded for his. 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 An unthinking person believes everything, but the prudent one thinks before acting. 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 person fears and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and overconfident. 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 A quick tempered person does foolish things, and a devious 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 naïve inherit folly, but the careful are crowned with knowledge. The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 Evil men will bow down in the presence of good men and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. 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 poor person is shunned by his neighbor, but many are the friends of the wealthy. 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 shows kindness to the poor will be happy. 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 Won't those who plot evil go astray? But gracious love and truth are for those who plan what is good. 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 hard work there is always profit, but too much chattering leads to poverty. 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, but the stupidity of fools is just that—stupidity! 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 truthful witness saves lives, but the person who lies is deceitful. 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 Rock-solid security is found in the fear of the LORD, and within it one's children find refuge. 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, enabling anyone to escape the snares 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 A large population is a king's glory, but a shortage of people is a ruler's ruin. 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 Being slow to get angry compares to great understanding as being quick-tempered compares to stupidity. 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 A tranquil mind brings life to one's body, but jealousy causes one's bones to rot. 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 oppresses the poor defies their Creator, but whoever is kind to the needy honors them. 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 wicked person is thrown down by his own wrongdoing, but the righteous person has a place of safety in 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 Wisdom is at rest in the mind of the discerning— even fools know this. 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 Righteousness makes a nation great, but sin diminishes any people. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.
35 The king approves the wise servant, but he is angry at anyone who acts shamefully. 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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