Proverbs 14 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 14 ▼
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1 A WISE woman builds her house; but the foolish 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 He who walks in uprightness has reverence for the LORD; but he who is perverse 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 In the mouth of the foolish is provocation and disgrace; but the lips of wise men shall preserve 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 cribs are clean; but abundant crops come by 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 faithful witness will not deceive; but a false witness will utter 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 An evil man seeks wisdom, and finds it not; but knowledge is easy to a man of understanding. 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 Everything is a hindrance to a foolish man; but the lips of a wise man are like a weapon. 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 is to understand his way; but the way of fools is deceit. 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 Truly the households of the wicked need purifying; but the households of the righteous are acceptable. 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 Fools commit sins; but the children of the upright have good will. 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 A heart which has understanding knows its own bitterness; and a stranger does not share in its joy. The house of the wicked shall be destroyed; but the tabernacle of the upright shall 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 way which seems right to 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 to death. There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of joy is 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 insolent in heart shall be filled with the fruit of his ways; and a good man shall be satisfied with the respect he receives. 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 simple man believes every word; but the prudent discerns between good and evil. 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 A wise man is cautious, and departs from evil; but the fool tampers with it confidently. 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 man hasty in whatever he does never seeks counsel; but a wise man is moderate. 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 Fools inherit folly; but the prudent dispense 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 shall prostrate themselves before good men; and the wicked shall come to beg 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 is hated even of his own neighbors; but the rich has many friends. 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 He who despises his neighbor sins; but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he. 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 The wicked err when they devise evil; but compassionate and righteous men do all kinds of good. The workers of iniquity do not understand truth and mercy; kindness and truth are with the workers of 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 all your labor there is profit; but he who is young is carefree and at ease. The LORD heals every wound; but the talk of the lips of the wicked tends only 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 riches; but the perverseness of fools is their folly. 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 true witness delivers lives; but a deceitful witness speaks falsehood. 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 reverence for the LORD is strong confidence, and his children shall have a place of 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 Reverence for the LORD is a fountain of life to those who turn away from 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 In the abundance of population is the king's honor; but in the destruction of the people is the ruin of the king. 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 He who is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he who is hasty of temper is exceedingly foolish. 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 He who cools down his anger is a healer of his own heart; but wrath is the rottenness of 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 He who oppresses the poor provokes his Maker; but he who honors the LORD has mercy on the needy. 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 is overthrown through his wickedness; but he who is confident that he is without sin is a righteous man. 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 shall rest in the heart of the righteous; but in the heart of fools it shall not be made known. 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 exalts a nation; but sin is a reproach to 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's favor is toward a wise servant; but the wicked shall be overthrown by his own devices. He who is confident that he is without sin is righteous. Anger destroys even wise men. 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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