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Proverbs 14

1 Homes are made by the wisdom of women, but are destroyed by foolishness.

2 Be honest and you show that you have reverence for the LORD; be dishonest and you show that you do not.

3 Proud fools talk too much; the words of the wise protect them.

4 Without any oxen to pull the plow your barn will be empty, but with them it will be full of grain.t

5 A reliable witness always tells the truth, but an unreliable one tells nothing but lies.

6 Conceited people can never become wise, but intelligent people learn easily.

7 Stay away from foolish people; they have nothing to teach you.

8 Why is a clever person wise? Because he knows what to do. Why is a stupid person foolish? Because he only thinks he knows.

9 Foolish people don't care if they sin, but good people want to be forgiven.t

10 Your joy is your own; your bitterness is your own. No one can share them with you.

11 A good person's house will still be standing after an evildoer's house has been destroyed.

12 What you think is the right road may lead to death.

13 Laughter may hide sadness. When happiness is gone, sorrow is always there.

14 Bad people will get what they deserve. Good people will be rewarded for their deeds.t

15 A fool will believe anything; smart people watch their step.

16 Sensible people are careful to stay out of trouble, but stupid people are careless and act too quickly.

17 People with a hot temper do foolish things; wiser people remain calm.t

18 Ignorant people get what their foolishness deserves, but the clever are rewarded with knowledge.

19 Evil people will have to bow down to the righteous and humbly beg their favor.

20 No one likes the poor, not even their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.

21 If you want to be happy, be kind to the poor; it is a sin to despise anyone.

22 You will earn the trust and respect of others if you work for good; if you work for evil, you are making a mistake.

23 Work and you will earn a living; if you sit around talking you will be poor.

24 Wise people are rewarded with wealth, but fools are known byt their foolishness.

25 A witness saves lives when he tells the truth; when he tells lies, he betrays people.

26 Reverence for the LORD gives confidence and security to a man and his family.

27 Do you want to avoid death? Reverence for the LORD is a fountain of life.

28 A king's greatness depends on how many people he rules; without them he is nothing.

29 If you stay calm, you are wise, but if you have a hot temper, you only show how stupid you are.

30 Peace of mind makes the body healthy, but jealousy is like a cancer.

31 If you oppress poor people, you insult the God who made them; but kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship.

32 Wicked people bring about their own downfall by their evil deeds, but good people are protected by their integrity.t

33 Wisdom is in every thought of intelligent people; fools know nothingt about wisdom.

34 Righteousness makes a nation great; sin is a disgrace to any nation.

35 Kings are pleased with competent officials, but they punish those who fail them.

Proverbs 14

1 Every wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.

2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah; But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the strength of the ox.

5 A faithful witness will not lie; But a false witness uttereth lies.

6 A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.

7 Go into the presence of a foolish man, And thou shalt not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.

9 A trespass-offering mocketh fools; But among the upright there is good will.

10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness; And a stranger doth not intermeddle with 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 seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of mirth is heaviness.

14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

15 The simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to his going.

16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.

17 He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.

18 The simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

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

20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends.

21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.

22 Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

23 In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches; But the folly of fools is only folly.

25 A true witness delivereth souls; But he that uttereth lies causeth deceit.

26 In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence; And his children shall have a place of refuge.

27 The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.

28 In the multitude of people is the king’s glory; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

29 He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

30 A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh; But envy is the rottenness of the bones.

31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.

32 The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing; But the righteous hath a refuge in his death.

33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; But that which is in the inward part of fools is made known.

34 Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people.

35 The king’s favor is toward a servant that dealeth wisely; But his wrath will be against him that causeth shame.

About the Good News Translation (GNT)

Scripture taken from the Good News Translation (r) (Today's English Version, Second Edition) Copyright (c) 1992 American Bible Society. Used by Permission.