Proverbs 14

Lady Wisdom builds a lovely home;
    Sir Fool comes along and tears it down brick by brick.

A wise woman builds her home,
    but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.

An honest life shows respect for God;
    a degenerate life is a slap in his face.

Those who follow the right path fear the Lord;
    those who take the wrong path despise him.

Frivolous talk provokes a derisive smile;
    wise speech evokes nothing but respect.

A fool’s proud talk becomes a rod that beats him,
    but the words of the wise keep them safe.

No cattle, no crops;
    a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow.

Without oxen a stable stays clean,
    but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.

A true witness never lies;
    a false witness makes a business of it.

An honest witness does not lie;
    a false witness breathes lies.

Cynics look high and low for wisdom—and never find it;
    the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!

A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it,
    but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding.

Escape quickly from the company of fools;
    they’re a waste of your time, a waste of your words.

Stay away from fools,
    for you won’t find knowledge on their lips.

The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track;
    the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.

The prudent understand where they are going,
    but fools deceive themselves.

The stupid ridicule right and wrong,
    but a moral life is a favored life.

Fools make fun of guilt,
    but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.

The person who shuns the bitter moments of friends
    will be an outsider at their celebrations.

Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can fully share its joy.

Lives of careless wrongdoing are tumbledown shacks;
    holy living builds soaring cathedrals.

The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
    but the tent of the godly will flourish.

There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough;
    look again—it leads straight to hell.
Sure, those people appear to be having a good time,
    but all that laughter will end in heartbreak.

There is a path before each person that seems right,
    but it ends in death.

Laughter can conceal a heavy heart,
    but when the laughter ends, the grief remains.

A mean person gets paid back in meanness,
    a gracious person in grace.

Backsliders get what they deserve;
    good people receive their reward.

The gullible believe anything they’re told;
    the prudent sift and weigh every word.

Only simpletons believe everything they’re told!
    The prudent carefully consider their steps.

The wise watch their steps and avoid evil;
    fools are headstrong and reckless.

The wise are cautious^[a] and avoid danger;
    fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence.

The hotheaded do things they’ll later regret;
    the coldhearted get the cold shoulder.

Short-tempered people do foolish things,
    and schemers are hated.

Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion;
    wise realists plant their feet on the ground.

Simpletons are clothed with foolishness,^[b]
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Eventually, evil will pay tribute to good;
    the wicked will respect God-loyal people.

Evil people will bow before good people;
    the wicked will bow at the gates of the godly.

An unlucky loser is shunned by all,
    but everyone loves a winner.

The poor are despised even by their neighbors,
    while the rich have many “friends.”

It’s criminal to ignore a neighbor in need,
    but compassion for the poor—what a blessing!

It is a sin to belittle one’s neighbor;
    blessed are those who help the poor.

Isn’t it obvious that conspirators lose out,
    while the thoughtful win love and trust?

If you plan to do evil, you will be lost;
    if you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love and faithfulness.

Hard work always pays off;
    mere talk puts no bread on the table.

Work brings profit,
    but mere talk leads to poverty!

The wise accumulate wisdom;
    fools get stupider by the day.

Wealth is a crown for the wise;
    the effort of fools yields only foolishness.

Souls are saved by truthful witness
    and betrayed by the spread of lies.

A truthful witness saves lives,
    but a false witness is a traitor.

The Fear-of-God builds up confidence,
    and makes a world safe for your children.

Those who fear the Lord are secure;
    he will be a refuge for their children.

The Fear-of-God is a spring of living water
    so you won’t go off drinking from poisoned wells.

Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain;
    it offers escape from the snares of death.

The mark of a good leader is loyal followers;
    leadership is nothing without a following.

A growing population is a king’s glory;
    a prince without subjects has nothing.

Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding;
    a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.

People with understanding control their anger;
    a hot temper shows great foolishness.

A sound mind makes for a robust body,
    but runaway emotions corrode the bones.

A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body;
    jealousy is like cancer in the bones.

You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless;
    when you’re kind to the poor, you honor God.

Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker,
    but helping the poor honors him.

The evil of bad people leaves them out in the cold;
    the integrity of good people creates a safe place for living.

The wicked are crushed by disaster,
    but the godly have a refuge when they die.

Lady Wisdom is at home in an understanding heart—
    fools never even get to say hello.

Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart;
    wisdom is not^[c] found among fools.

God-devotion makes a country strong;
    God-avoidance leaves people weak.

Godliness makes a nation great,
    but sin is a disgrace to any people.

Diligent work gets a warm commendation;
    shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.