Proverbs 14

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

1 The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD,
But he who is devious in his ways despises Him.

3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,
But the lips of the wise will protect them.

4 Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.

5 A trustworthy witness will not lie,
But a false witness utters lies.

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.

7 Leave the presence of a fool,
Or you will not discern words of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,
But the foolishness of fools is deceit.

9 Fools mock at sin,
But among the upright there is good will.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,
And the end of joy may be grief.

14 The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied with his.

15 The naive believes everything,
But the sensible man considers his steps.

16 A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil,
But a fool is arrogant and careless.

17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of evil devices is hated.

18 The naive inherit foolishness,
But the sensible are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil will bow down before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor is hated even by his neighbor,
But those who love the rich are many.

21 He who despises his neighbor sins,
But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.

22 Will they not go astray who devise evil?
But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.

23 In all labor there is profit,
But mere talk leads only to poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the folly of fools is foolishness.

25 A truthful witness saves lives,
But he who utters lies is treacherous.

26 In the tfear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
And his children will have refuge.

27 The tfear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
That one may avoid the snares of death.

28 In a multitude of people is a king's glory,
But in the dearth of people is a prince's ruin.

29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.

30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,
But passion is rottenness to the bones.

31 He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker,
But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.

32 The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing,
But the righteous has a refuge when he dies.

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
But in the hearts of fools it is made known.

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a disgrace to any people.

35 The king's favor is toward a servant who acts wisely,
But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.

Proverbs 15

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,
But the mouth of fools spouts folly.

3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.

4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it crushes the spirit.

5 A fool rejects his father's discipline,
But he who regards reproof is sensible.

6 Great wealth is in the house of the righteous,
But trouble is in the income of the wicked.

7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.

8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.

9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But He loves one who pursues righteousness.

10 Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way;
He who hates reproof will die.

11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD,
How much more the hearts of men!

12 A scoffer does not love one who reproves him,
He will not go to the wise.

13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face,
But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.

14 The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

15 All the days of the afflicted are bad,
But a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD
Than great treasure and turmoil with it.

17 Better is a dish of vegetables where love is
Than a fattened ox served with hatred.

18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
But the slow to anger calms a dispute.

19 The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.

20 A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Folly is joy to him who lacks sense,
But a man of understanding walks straight.

22 Without consultation, plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they succeed.

23 A man has joy in an apt answer,
And how delightful is a timely word!

24 The path of life leads upward for the wise
That he may keep away from Sheol below.

25 The LORD will tear down the house of the proud,
But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

26 Evil plans are an abomination to the LORD,
But pleasant words are pure.

27 He who profits illicitly troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.

28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

29 The LORD is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 Bright eyes gladden the heart;
Good news puts fat on the bones.

31 He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof
Will dwell among the wise.

32 He who neglects discipline despises himself,
But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.

33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.

Proverbs 16

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

1 The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,
But the LORD weighs the motives.

3 Commit your works to the LORD
And your plans will be established.

4 The LORD has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.

5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.

6 By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.

7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.

9 The mind of man plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.

10 A divine decision is in the lips of the king;
His mouth should not err in judgment.

11 A just balance and scales belong to the LORD;
All the weights of the bag are His concern.

12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
For a throne is established on righteousness.

13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks right is loved.

14 The fury of a king is like messengers of death,
But a wise man will appease it.

15 In the light of a king's face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the spring rain.

16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who watches his way preserves his life.

18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

19 It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20 He who gives attention to the word will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

21 The wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,
But the discipline of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25 There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

26 A worker's appetite works for him,
For his hunger urges him on.

27 A worthless man digs up evil,
While his words are like scorching fire.

28 A perverse man spreads strife,
And a slanderer separates intimate friends.

29 A man of violence entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.

30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

31 A gray head is a crown of glory;
It is found in the way of righteousness.

32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the LORD.