Proverbs 14 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

Pro 14:1

Pro 14:1The wisest of women builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down.

Pro 14:2

Pro 14:2Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD,
but he who is devious in his ways despises him.

Pro 14:3

Pro 14:3By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,[fn]
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

Pro 14:4

Pro 14:4Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

Pro 14:5

Pro 14:5A faithful witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes out lies.

Pro 14:6

Pro 14:6A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

Pro 14:7

Pro 14:7Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

Pro 14:8

Pro 14:8The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools is deceiving.

Pro 14:9

Pro 14:9Fools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance.[fn]

Pro 14:10

Pro 14:10The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.

Pro 14:11

Pro 14:11The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.

Pro 14:12

Pro 14:12There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.[fn]

Pro 14:13

Pro 14:13Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and the end of joy may be grief.

Pro 14:14

Pro 14:14The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways,
and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.

Pro 14:15

Pro 14:15The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

Pro 14:16

Pro 14:16One who is wise is cautious[fn] and turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.

Pro 14:17

Pro 14:17A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.

Pro 14:18

Pro 14:18The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Pro 14:19

Pro 14:19The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

Pro 14:20

Pro 14:20The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
but the rich has many friends.

Pro 14:21

Pro 14:21Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

Pro 14:22

Pro 14:22Do they not go astray who devise evil?
Those who devise good meet[fn] steadfast love and faithfulness.

Pro 14:23

Pro 14:23In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty.

Pro 14:24

Pro 14:24The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the folly of fools brings folly.

Pro 14:25

Pro 14:25A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.

Pro 14:26

Pro 14:26In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence,
and his children will have a refuge.

Pro 14:27

Pro 14:27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.

Pro 14:28

Pro 14:28In a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
but without people a prince is ruined.

Pro 14:29

Pro 14:29Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Pro 14:30

Pro 14:30A tranquil[fn] heart gives life to the flesh,
but envy[fn] makes the bones rot.

Pro 14:31

Pro 14:31Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker,
but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

Pro 14:32

Pro 14:32The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
but the righteous finds refuge in his death.

Pro 14:33

Pro 14:33Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.[fn]

Pro 14:34

Pro 14:34Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.

Pro 14:35

Pro 14:35A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(14:3)

Or In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride

(14:9)

Hebrew but among the upright is acceptance

(14:12)

Hebrew ways of death

(14:16)

Or fears [the LORD]

Or show

Or healing

Or jealousy

Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools

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For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.