Pro 14 | ESV | STEP | The wisest of women builds her house , but folly with her own hands tears it down .

‏ Proverbs 14

1 ^aThe wisest of women ^bbuilds her house,
but folly with her own hands ^ctears it down.
2 Whoever ^dwalks in uprightness fears the Lord,
but he who is ^edevious in his ways despises him.
3 By the mouth of a fool comes ^fa rod for his back, ^{▼▼Or In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride}
^hbut the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5 ⁱA faithful witness does not lie,
but ^ja false witness breathes out lies.
6 ^kA scoffer seeks wisdom ^lin vain,
but ^mknowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
7 Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools is deceiving.
9 ⁿFools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance. ^{▼▼Hebrew but among the upright is acceptance}
10 The heart knows its own ^pbitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.
11 ^qThe house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 ^rThere is a way that seems right to a man,
but ^sits end is the way to death. ^{▼▼Hebrew ways of death}
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and ^uthe end of joy may be ^vgrief.
14 The backslider in heart will be ^wfilled with the fruit of his ways,
and ^xa good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
15 ^yThe simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
16 ^zOne who is wise is cautious ^{▼▼Or fears [the Lord]} and ^abturns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
17 A man of ^acquick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 ^adThe evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 ^aeThe poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
^afbut the rich has many friends.
21 Whoever ^agdespises his neighbor is a sinner,
but ^ahblessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22 Do they not go astray who ^aidevise evil?
Those who devise good meet ^{▼▼Or show} ^aksteadfast love and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk ^altends only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the folly of fools brings folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who ^ambreathes out lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord one has ^anstrong confidence,
and ^aohis children will have ^apa refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is ^aqa fountain of life,
that one may ^arturn away from the snares of death.
28 In ^asa multitude of people is the glory of a king,
but without people a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is ^atslow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30 A tranquil ^{▼▼Or healing} heart gives ^avlife to the flesh,
but ^awenvy ^{▼▼Or jealousy} makes ^aythe bones rot.
31 Whoever oppresses a poor man ^azinsults his ^baMaker,
^bbbut he who is generous to the needy honors him.
32 ^bcThe wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
but ^bdthe righteous finds refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom ^berests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. ^{▼▼Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools}
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 A servant who deals wisely has ^bgthe king’s favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.