Proverbs14

Proverbs 14 extensively contrasts wisdom with folly, illustrating how each impacts one's conduct, speech, and ultimate destiny. It emphasizes that fearing the Lord is a fountain of life and a source of strong confidence, leading to uprightness and prosperity. The chapter also highlights the importance of truthfulness, compassion for the poor, and the destructive nature of sin and perverse ways.

The Wise and Foolish Woman

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.

The Danger of Self-Deception

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.

The Simple and the Prudent

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.

Wealth, Poverty, and Compassion

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.

The Fear of the Lord: True Security

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.

Principles of Governance

28
In the multitude of a people is the honour of a king, And in lack of people the ruin of a prince.
29
Whoso is slow to anger is of great understanding, And whoso is short in temper is exalting folly.
30
A healed heart is life to the flesh, And rottenness to the bones is envy.
31
An oppressor of the poor reproacheth his Maker, And whoso is honouring Him Is favouring the needy.
32
In his wickedness is the wicked driven away, And trustful in his death is the righteous.
33
In the heart of the intelligent wisdom doth rest. And in the midst of fools it is known.
34
Righteousness exalteth a nation, And the goodliness of peoples is a sin-offering.
35
The favour of a king is to a wise servant, And an object of his wrath is one causing shame!
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