Proverbs 14  Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

14 Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

² He who walks in uprightness reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, but he who is contrary and devious in his ways despises Him.

³ In the ^[a]fool’s own mouth is a rod [to shame] his pride, but the wise men’s lips preserve them.

⁴ Where no oxen are, the grain crib is empty, but much increase [of crops] comes by the strength of the ox.

⁵ A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness breathes out falsehoods.

⁶ A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain [for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it], but knowledge is easy to him who [being teachable] understands.

⁷ Go from the presence of a foolish and self-confident man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.

⁸ The Wisdom [godly Wisdom, which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of [self-confident] fools is to deceive.

⁹ Fools make a mock of sin and sin mocks the fools [who are its victims; a sin offering made by them only mocks them, bringing them disappointment and disfavor], but among the upright there is the favor of God.^(A)

¹⁰ The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.

¹¹ The house of the wicked shall be overthrown, but the tent of the upright shall flourish.

¹² There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.

¹³ Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of mirth is heaviness and grief.

¹⁴ The backslider in heart [from God and from fearing God] shall be filled with [the fruit of] his own ways, and a good man shall be satisfied with [the fruit of] his ways [with the holy thoughts and actions which his heart prompts and in which he delights].

¹⁵ The simpleton believes every word he hears, but the prudent man looks and considers well where he is going.

¹⁶ A wise man suspects danger and cautiously avoids evil, but the fool bears himself insolently and is [presumptuously] confident.

¹⁷ He who foams up quickly and flies into a passion deals foolishly, and a man of wicked plots and plans is hated.

¹⁸ The simple acquire folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

¹⁹ The evil men bow before the good, and the wicked [stand suppliantly] at the gates of the [uncompromisingly] righteous.

²⁰ The poor is hated even by his own neighbor, but the rich has many friends.

²¹ He who despises his neighbor sins [against God, his fellowman, and himself], but happy (blessed and fortunate) is he who is kind and merciful to the poor.

²² Do they not err who devise evil and wander from the way of life? But loving-kindness and mercy, loyalty and faithfulness, shall be to those who devise good.

²³ In all labor there is profit, but idle talk leads only to poverty.

²⁴ The crown of the wise is their wealth of Wisdom, but the foolishness of [self-confident] fools is [nothing but] folly.

²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives, but a deceitful witness speaks lies [and endangers lives].

²⁶ In the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children shall always have a place of refuge.

²⁷ Reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.^(B)

²⁸ In a multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in a lack of people is the prince’s ruin.

²⁹ He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is hasty of spirit exposes and exalts his folly.^(C)

³⁰ A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.

³¹ He who oppresses the poor reproaches, mocks, and insults his Maker, but he who is kind and merciful to the needy honors Him.^(D)

³² The wicked is overthrown through his wrongdoing and calamity, but the [consistently] righteous has hope and confidence even in death.

³³ Wisdom rests [silently] in the mind and heart of him who has understanding, but that which is in the inward part of [self-confident] fools is made known.^(E)

³⁴ Uprightness and right standing with God (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

³⁵ The king’s favor is toward a wise and discreet servant, but his wrath is against him who does shamefully.^(F)