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The Proverbs

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- Chapter 14 -

The righteous and the unrighteous

1
A wise woman builds up her household. But a foolish one will pull down with her own hands what has been built up.
2
One who walks on a virtuous journey, and who fears God, is despised by him who advances along a disreputable way.
3
In the mouth of the foolish, there is a rod of arrogance. But the lips of the wise guard them.
4
Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty. But where there are many crops, there the strength of the ox is manifest.
5
A faithful witness will not lie. But a deceitful witness offers a lie.
6
A mocker seeks wisdom and does not find it. The doctrine of the prudent is accessible.(a)
7
Go against a foolish man, and he does not acknowledge lips of prudence.
8
The wisdom of a discerning man is to understand his way. And the imprudence of the foolish is to be wandering astray.
9
The foolish will speak mockingly of sin. But grace lingers among the just.
10
The heart that knows the bitterness of its own soul, in its gladness the outsider shall not meddle.
11
The house of the impious will be wiped away. Yet truly, the tabernacles of the just shall spring forth.
12
There is a way which seems just to a man, but its conclusion leads to death.
13
Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning occupies the limits of joy.
14
The foolish will be filled up by his own ways. And the good man shall be above him.
15
The innocent trust every word. The astute one considers his own steps. Nothing good will be for the deceitful son. But the wise servant shall act prosperously and his way will be set in order.
16
The wise fear, and so turn away from evil. The foolish leap ahead with confidence.(b)
17
The impatient will work foolishness. And a resourceful man is hated.(c)
18
The childish will possess foolishness, and the discerning will anticipate knowledge.(d)
19
The evil will fall down before the good. And the impious will fall down before the gates of the just.

Rich and poor

20
The pauper will be hated, even by his own neighbor. Yet truly, the friends of the wealthy are many.
21
Whoever despises his neighbor, sins. But whoever pities the poor shall be blessed. Whoever trusts in the Lord loves mercy.
22
They wander astray who work evil. But mercy and truth prepare good things.
23
In every work, there shall be abundance. But where there are many words, there is often need.
24
The crown of the wise is their wealth. The senselessness of the foolish is imprudence.
25
A faithful witness frees souls. And the chameleon utters lies.(e)
26
In the fear of the Lord is the faithfulness of strength, and there shall be hope for his sons.
27
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, so as to turn aside from the ruin of death.
28
In a multitude of people, there is dignity for the king. And in a paucity of people, there is disgrace for the prince.
29
Whoever is patient is governed by much prudence. But whoever is impatient exalts his foolishness.
30
The well-being of the heart is life for the flesh. But envy is decay for the bones.(f)
31
Whoever slanders the indigent argues against his Maker. But he who has compassion on the poor honors his Maker.(g)
32
The impious will be expelled in his malice. But the just finds hope even in his own death.
33
In the heart of the prudent, wisdom finds rest. And so shall he instruct all the uneducated.
34
Justice elevates a nation. But sin makes the peoples miserable.
35
An intelligent minister is acceptable to the king. Whoever is useless shall bear his wrath.

Footnotes

(a)14:6 The word ‘facilis’ is given in the context of ‘non invenit.’ Therefore, it means ‘easy to find’ or ‘accessible,’ not merely ‘easy.’(Conte)
(b)14:16 Sometimes the word ‘et’ is used in a way in Latin in which the word ‘and’ is not used in English. So, it is translated as ‘with,’ or perhaps even replaced by punctuation, rather than words.(Conte)
(c)14:17 A resourceful man knows where to turn for help.(Conte)
(d)14:18 Or, perhaps the first part of this verse has a more positive meaning: ‘the little ones will be masters over foolishness.’(Conte)
(e)14:25 The word ‘versipellis’ means ‘shape-shifter,’ or more literally, one who changes his skin: versi-pellis. The word ‘chameleon’ in English is sometimes applied as a metaphorical description of persons, so it is a fitting translation.(Conte)
(f)14:30 The genitive case is not always possessive and is not always to be translated as ‘of.’(Conte)
(g)14:31 The pronoun ‘eum’ is here translated with the noun it refers to ‘Factori’ or ‘Maker.’ Otherwise, it would be confusing at to whom the pronoun refers.(Conte)

The righteous and the unrighteous

1
Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2
He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
3
The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
4
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5
A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.
6
A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
7
Stay away from a foolish man, for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.
8
The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
9
Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will.
10
The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.
11
The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12
There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
13
Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.
14
The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
15
A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
16
A wise man fears and shuns evil, but the fool is hot headed and reckless.
17
He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man 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.

Rich and poor

20
The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.
21
He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.
22
Don’t they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
23
In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
24
The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.
25
A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.
26
In the fear of the LORD is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.
27
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning people from the snares of death.
28
In the multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
29
He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
30
The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.
31
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
32
The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but in death, the righteous has a refuge.
33
Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.
34
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35
The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
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