Proverbs 14 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 14 ▼
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1 Every wise woman builds her household, but a foolish woman 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 The one who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is perverted 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 speech of a fool is a rod for 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 an abundant harvest is produced by strong oxen. 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 truthful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out 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 The scorner seeks wisdom but finds none, but understanding is easy for a discerning person. 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 Leave the presence of a foolish person, or you will not understand wise counsel. 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 shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception. 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 at reparation, but among the upright there is favor. 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 with its joy no one else can share. 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 household 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 person, but its end is the way that 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 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy 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 backslider will be paid back from his own ways, but a good person 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 A naive person believes everything, but the shrewd person discerns 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 person is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is 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 person who has a quick temper does foolish things, and a person with crafty schemes 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 naive inherit folly, but the shrewd 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 Those who are evil will bow before those who are good, and the wicked will bow 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 A poor person is disliked even by his neighbors, but those who love the rich 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 The one who despises his neighbor sins, but whoever is kind to the needy is blessed. 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 devise evil go astray? But those who plan good exhibit faithful covenant love. 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 hard work there is profit, but merely talking about it only brings 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 folly 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 rescues lives, but the one who breathes lies brings deception. 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 one has strong confidence, and it will be a refuge for his children. 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 like a life-giving fountain, to turn people from deadly snares. 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 king's glory is the abundance of people, but the lack of subjects is the ruin of a ruler. 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 The one who is slow to anger has great understanding, but the one who has a quick temper exalts 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 spirit revives the body, but envy is rottenness to 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 The one who oppresses the poor insults his Creator, but whoever shows favor 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 will be thrown down in his trouble, but the righteous have refuge even in the threat of 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; it is known even in the heart of fools. 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 The king shows favor to a wise servant, but his wrath falls on one 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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