Proverbs 14:1-27 ▼

1 Every wise woman hath builded her house, And the foolish with her hands breaketh it down.

2 Whoso is walking in his uprightness is fearing Jehovah, And the perverted in his ways is despising Him.

3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, And the lips of the wise preserve them.

4 Without oxen a stall is clean, And great is the increase by the power of the ox.

5 A faithful witness lieth not, And a false witness breatheth out lies.

6 A scorner hath sought wisdom, and it is not, And knowledge to the intelligent is easy.

7 Go from before a foolish man, Or thou hast not known the lips of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, And the folly of fools is deceit.

9 Fools mock at a guilt-offering, And among the upright -- a pleasing thing.

10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness, And with its joy a stranger doth not intermeddle.

11 The house of the wicked is destroyed, And the tent of the upright flourisheth.

12 There is a way -- right before a man, And its latter end are ways of death.

13 Even in laughter is the heart pained, And the latter end of joy is affliction.

14 From his ways is the backslider in heart filled, And a good man -- from his fruits.

15 The simple giveth credence to everything, And the prudent attendeth to his step.

16 The wise is fearing and turning from evil, And a fool is transgressing and is confident.

17 Whoso is short of temper doth folly, And a man of wicked devices is hated.

18 The simple have inherited folly, And the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil have bowed down before the good, And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 Even of his neighbour is the poor hated, And those loving the rich are many.

21 Whoso is despising his neighbour sinneth, Whoso is favouring the humble, O his happiness.

22 Do not they err who are devising evil? And kindness and truth are to those devising good,

23 In all labour there is advantage, And a thing of the lips is only to want.

24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, The folly of fools is folly.

25 A true witness is delivering souls, And a deceitful one breatheth out lies.

26 In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence, And to His sons there is a refuge.

27 The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, To turn aside from snares of death.