Proverbs 14 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 14 ▼
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1 A wise woman builds her home, 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 Those who follow the right path fear the LORD; those who take the wrong path despise 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 A fool’s proud talk becomes a rod that beats him, but the words of the wise keep them safe. 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 Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest. 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 lie; a false witness breathes 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 never finds it, but knowledge comes easily to those with 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 Stay away from fools, for you won’t find knowledge on their lips. 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 prudent understand where they are going, but fools deceive themselves. 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 the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation. 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 Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share 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 godly 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 path before each person that seems right, but it ends in 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 can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains. 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 Backsliders get what they deserve; good people receive their reward. 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 Only simpletons believe everything they’re told! The prudent carefully consider their 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 The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless 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 Short-tempered people do foolish things, and schemers are 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 Simpletons are clothed with foolishness, 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 Evil people will bow before good people; the wicked will bow at the gates of the godly. 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 are despised even by their neighbors, while the rich have 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 It is a sin to belittle one’s neighbor; blessed are those who help 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 If you plan to do evil, you will be lost; if you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love 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 Work brings profit, but mere talk 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 Wealth is a crown for the wise; the effort of fools yields only foolishness. 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 a false witness is a traitor. 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 Those who fear the LORD are secure; he will be a refuge for their 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 Fear of the LORD is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape 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 growing population is a king’s glory; a prince without subjects has nothing. 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 People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great 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 A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in 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 Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor 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 are crushed by disaster, but the godly have a refuge when they die. 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 enshrined in an understanding heart; wisdom is not found among 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 Godliness makes a nation great, 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 rejoices in wise servants but is angry with those who disgrace him. 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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