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Chapter 14
1The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
2He whose walk is upright fears the LORD,
but he whose ways are devious despises him.
3A fool's talk brings a rod to his back,
but the lips of the wise protect them.
4Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.
5A truthful witness does not deceive,
but a false witness pours out lies.
6The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
7Stay away from a foolish man,
for you will not find knowledge on his lips.
8The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
but the folly of fools is deception.
9Fools mock at making amends for sin,
but goodwill is found among the upright.
10Each heart knows its own bitterness,
and no one else can share its joy.
11The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
13Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and joy may end in grief.
14The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,
and the good man rewarded for his.
15A simple man believes anything,
but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.
16A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil,
but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.
17A quick-tempered man does foolish things,
and a crafty man is hated.
18The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19Evil men will bow down in the presence of the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends.
21He who despises his neighbor sins,
but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.
22Do not those who plot evil go astray?
But those who plan what is good findOr show love and faithfulness.
23All hard work brings a profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24The wealth of the wise is their crown,
but the folly of fools yields folly.
25A truthful witness saves lives,
but a false witness is deceitful.
26He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress,
and for his children it will be a refuge.
27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
turning a man from the snares of death.
28A large population is a king's glory,
but without subjects a prince is ruined.
29A patient man has great understanding,
but a quick-tempered man displays folly.
30A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.
31He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
32When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,
but even in death the righteous have a refuge.
33Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning
and even among fools she lets herself be known.Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac / but in the heart of fools she is not known
34Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35A king delights in a wise servant,
but a shameful servant incurs his wrath.
Chapter 15
1A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
3The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,
keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
4The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
5A fool spurns his father's discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
6The house of the righteous contains great treasure,
but the income of the wicked brings them trouble.
7The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the hearts of fools.
8The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
9The LORD detests the way of the wicked
but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
10Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path;
he who hates correction will die.
11Death and DestructionHebrew Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD—
how much more the hearts of men!
12A mocker resents correction;
he will not consult the wise.
13A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
but heartache crushes the spirit.
14The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16Better a little with the fear of the LORD
than great wealth with turmoil.
17Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened calf with hatred.
18A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension,
but a patient man calms a quarrel.
19The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,
but the path of the upright is a highway.
20A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
21Folly delights a man who lacks judgment,
but a man of understanding keeps a straight course.
22Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.
23A man finds joy in giving an apt reply—
and how good is a timely word!
24The path of life leads upward for the wise
to keep him from going down to the grave.Hebrew Sheol
25The LORD tears down the proud man's house
but he keeps the widow's boundaries intact.
26The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,
but those of the pure are pleasing to him.
27A greedy man brings trouble to his family,
but he who hates bribes will live.
28The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,
but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
29The LORD is far from the wicked
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.
31He who listens to a life-giving rebuke
will be at home among the wise.
32He who ignores discipline despises himself,
but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
33The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom,Or Wisdom teaches the fear of the LORD
and humility comes before honor.
Chapter 16
1To man belong the plans of the heart,
but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.
2All a man's ways seem innocent to him,
but motives are weighed by the LORD.
3Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.
4The LORD works out everything for his own ends—
even the wicked for a day of disaster.
5The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
6Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
7When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD,
he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
8Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.
9In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps.
10The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth should not betray justice.
11Honest scales and balances are from the LORD;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.
12Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.
13Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value a man who speaks the truth.
14A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
but a wise man will appease it.
15When a king's face brightens, it means life;
his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
16How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to choose understanding rather than silver!
17The highway of the upright avoids evil;
he who guards his way guards his life.
18Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.
19Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.
20Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
21The wise in heart are called discerning,
and pleasant words promote instruction.Or words make a man persuasive
22Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
but folly brings punishment to fools.
23A wise man's heart guides his mouth,
and his lips promote instruction.Or mouth / and makes his lips persuasive
24Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
26The laborer's appetite works for him;
his hunger drives him on.
27A scoundrel plots evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28A perverse man stirs up dissension,
and a gossip separates close friends.
29A violent man entices his neighbor
and leads him down a path that is not good.
30He who winks with his eye is plotting perversity;
he who purses his lips is bent on evil.
31Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
it is attained by a righteous life.
32Better a patient man than a warrior,
a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.
33The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD.
 
 

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