Proverbs 14–17

Proverbs 14–17 WEB

^14:1Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands. ²He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him. ³The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them. ⁴Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox. ⁵A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies. ⁶A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person. ⁷Stay away from a foolish man, for you won’t find knowledge on his lips. ⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit. ⁹Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will. ¹⁰The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger. ¹¹The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish. ¹²There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. ¹³Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness. ¹⁴The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways. ¹⁵A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways. ¹⁶A wise man fears and shuns evil, but the fool is hot headed and reckless. ¹⁷He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated. ¹⁸The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. ¹⁹The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. ²⁰The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends. ²¹He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has pity on the poor is blessed. ²²Don’t they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good. ²³In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty. ²⁴The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly. ²⁵A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful. ²⁶In the fear of the LORD is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children. ²⁷The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning people from the snares of death. ²⁸In the multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince. ²⁹He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly. ³⁰The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones. ³¹He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him. ³²The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but in death, the righteous has a refuge. ³³Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools. ³⁴Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. ³⁵The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.

^15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. ²The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools gush out folly. ³The LORD’s eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good. ⁴A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit. ⁵A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence. ⁶In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble. ⁷The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools. ⁸The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. ⁹The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves him who follows after righteousness. ¹⁰There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way. Whoever hates reproof shall die. ¹¹Sheol and Abaddon are before the LORD— how much more then the hearts of the children of men! ¹²A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. ¹³A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit. ¹⁴The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. ¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast. ¹⁶Better is little, with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble. ¹⁷Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred. ¹⁸A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife. ¹⁹The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway. ²⁰A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother. ²¹Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight. ²²Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established. ²³Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time! ²⁴The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol. ²⁵The LORD will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow’s borders intact. ²⁶The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing. ²⁷He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live. ²⁸The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil. ²⁹The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. ³⁰The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones. ³¹The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise. ³²He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding. ³³The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.

^16:1The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. ²All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the motives. ³Commit your deeds to the LORD, and your plans shall succeed. ⁴The LORD has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil. ⁵Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; they shall certainly not be unpunished. ⁶By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. ⁷When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. ⁸Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice. ⁹A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps. ¹⁰Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth. ¹¹Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work. ¹²It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness. ¹³Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth. ¹⁴The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it. ¹⁵In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain. ¹⁶How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. ¹⁷The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul. ¹⁸Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall. ¹⁹It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud. ²⁰He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in the LORD is blessed. ²¹The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction. ²²Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly. ²³The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. ²⁴Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. ²⁵There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. ²⁶The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on. ²⁷A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire. ²⁸A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends. ²⁹A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good. ³⁰One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil. ³¹Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness. ³²One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city. ³³The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

^17:1Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife. ²A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers. ³The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts. ⁴An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. ⁵Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished. ⁶Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents. ⁷Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince. ⁸A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers. ⁹He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends. ¹⁰A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool. ¹¹An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. ¹²Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. ¹³Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. ¹⁴The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out. ¹⁵He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. ¹⁶Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding? ¹⁷A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity. ¹⁸A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor. ¹⁹He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction. ²⁰One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble. ²¹He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy. ²²A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. ²³A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice. ²⁴Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth. ²⁵A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him. ²⁶Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity. ²⁷He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding. ²⁸Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.