Proverbs 14

1A wise woman builds up her home, but a foolish one pulls it down with her own hands. 2Whoever lives uprightly fears the LORD, but whoever goes crooked ways despises him. 3A fool’s talk is a rod for his own back, the fruit of his pride, but the words of the wise keep them safe. 4Without oxen the feeding trough stays clean, but it takes a strong ox to bring a big harvest. 5An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. 6A mocker goes looking for wisdom and comes up empty, but a person of understanding learns with ease. 7Stay away from a fool, for you will not hear knowledge from his lips. 8The prudent are wise because they think about where they are going, but the folly of fools is self-deception. 9Fools make light of guilt, but among the upright there is goodwill. 10Each heart knows its own sorrow, and no outsider can share its joy. 11The house of the wicked will be wiped out, but the tent of the upright will thrive. 12There is a road that looks right to a person, but at the end of it is death. 13Even while laughing the heart may ache, and joy can end in sorrow. 14The faithless will get their fill of their own ways, and the good will be rewarded for theirs. 15The naive believe everything they hear, but the prudent watch where they are going. 16The wise are careful and turn away from evil, but a fool is reckless and overconfident. 17Someone with a short temper acts foolishly, and the one who schemes is hated. 18The naive end up with folly as their inheritance, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19In the end the evil bow low to the good, and the wicked come begging at the doors of the righteous. 20The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have plenty of friends. 21To look down on a neighbor is a sin, but how blessed is the one who is kind to the humble. 22Surely those who plot evil go astray, but those who plan good find loyal love and faithfulness. 23All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. 24Wealth is a crown for the wise, but the folly of fools brings only folly. 25A truthful witness saves lives, but one who pours out lies is a traitor. 26Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and their children will have a refuge. 27The fear of the LORD is a spring of life, steering people away from the traps of death. 28A king’s glory is in having many people; without people a ruler is ruined. 29Patience shows great understanding, but a quick temper puts folly on display. 30A calm heart gives life to the body, but envy is decay in the bones. 31Whoever oppresses the poor insults the One who made them, but kindness to the needy honors him. 32The wicked are brought down by their own evil, but the righteous have a refuge even in death. 33Wisdom is at home in the heart of the discerning, and even among fools it makes itself known. 34Righteousness lifts a nation up, but sin brings disgrace on any people. 35A king shows favor to a wise servant, but his anger falls on one who disgraces him.