Proverbs 14

[Pro 14:1-35 NKJV]

Men and women of God

1 The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, But [he who is] perverse in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of a fool [is] a rod of pride, But the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where no oxen [are], the trough [is] clean; But much increase [comes] by the strength of an ox.
5 A faithful witness does not lie, But a false witness will utter lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not [find it], But knowledge [is] easy to him who understands.
7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, When you do 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 Fools mock at sin, But among the upright [there is] favor.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy.

The result of the life you choose

11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown, But the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way [that seems] right to a man, But its end [is] the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, And the end of mirth [may be] grief.
14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man [will be satisfied] from above.

Simple mindedness vs prudence

15 The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.
16 A wise [man] fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident.
17 A quick-tempered [man] acts foolishly, And a man of wicked intentions is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly, But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil will bow before the good, And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor [man] is hated even by his own neighbor, But the rich [has] many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy [is] he.
22 Do they not go astray who devise evil? But mercy and truth [belong] to those who devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter [leads] only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches, [But] the foolishness of fools [is] folly.

The rest of the story

25 A true witness delivers souls, But a deceitful [witness] speaks lies.
26 In the fear of the LORD [there is] strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD [is] a fountain of life, To turn [one] away from the snares of death.
28 In a multitude of people [is] a king's honor, But in the lack of people [is] the downfall of a prince.
29 [He who is] slow to wrath has great understanding, But [he who is] impulsive exalts folly.
30 A sound heart [is] life to the body, But envy [is] rottenness to the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.
32 The wicked is banished in his wickedness, But the righteous has a refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, But [what is] in the heart of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin [is] a reproach to [any] people.
35 The king's favor [is] toward a wise servant, But his wrath [is against] him who causes shame.

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