Proverbs 14:1-27 ▼

1 Every wise woman has built her house, || And the foolish breaks it down with her hands.

2 Whoever is walking in his uprightness is fearing YHWH, || And the perverted is despising Him [in] his ways.

3 A rod of pride [is] in the mouth of a fool, || And the lips of the wise preserve them.

4 Without oxen a stall [is] clean, || And great [is] the increase by the power of the ox.

5 A faithful witness does not lie, || And a false witness breathes out lies.

6 A scorner has sought wisdom, and it is not, || And knowledge [is] easy to the intelligent.

7 Go from before a foolish man, || Or you have not known the lips of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the prudent [is] to understand his way, || And the folly of fools [is] deceit.

9 Fools mock at a guilt-offering, || And among the upright—a pleasing thing.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness, || And a stranger does not interfere with its joy.

11 The house of the wicked is destroyed, || And the tent of the upright flourishes.

12 There is a way—right before a man, || And its latter end [are] ways of death.

13 Even in laughter is the heart pained, || And the latter end of joy [is] affliction.

14 The backslider in heart is filled from his ways, || And a good man—from his fruits.

15 The simple gives credence to everything, || And the prudent attends to his step.

16 The wise is fearing and turning from evil, || And a fool is transgressing and is confident.

17 Whoever is short of temper does folly, || And a man of wicked schemes is hated.

18 The simple have inherited folly, || And the prudent are crowned [with] knowledge.

19 The evil have bowed down before the good, || And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor is hated even of his neighbor, || And those loving the rich [are] many.

21 Whoever is despising his neighbor sins, || Whoever is favoring the humble, || O his blessedness.

22 Do they who are devising evil not err? And kindness and truth [are] to those devising good,

23 In all labor there is advantage, || And a thing of the lips [is] only to want.

24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, || The folly of fools [is] folly.

25 A true witness is delivering souls, || And a deceitful one breathes out lies.

26 Strong confidence [is] in the fear of YHWH, || And there is a refuge to His sons.

27 The fear of YHWH [is] a fountain of life, || To turn aside from snares of death.