Proverbs 14 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 14 ▼
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1 Every wise woman builds her house, but a 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 He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who 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 The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips 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 manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes 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 An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth 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 knowledge comes easily to the discerning. 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; you will gain no knowledge from his speech. 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 discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them. 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 mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright. 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, and no stranger shares 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 way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way 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 may ache, and joy may end in sorrow. 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 backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways. 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 man watches his steps. 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 fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless. 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 man acts foolishly, 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 simple inherit folly, but the prudent 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 The evil bow before the good, 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 man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich. 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 blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor. 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 Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness. 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 There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads 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 wealth, but the effort of fools is 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 truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters 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 He who fears the LORD is secure in 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 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man 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 A large population is a king’s splendor, but a lack of subjects is a prince’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 A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly. 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 heart is life to the body, but envy rots 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 oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him. 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 man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even 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 rests in the heart of the discerning; even among fools she is 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 disgrace 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 A king delights in a wise servant, but his anger falls on the shameful. 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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