Scroll Scroll

Proverbs 14

Wisdom, Folly, and Understanding

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.

Justice, Compassion, and Righteousness

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.

PreviousProverbs 13
NextProverbs 15

Proverbs 14 presents a series of contrasts between wisdom and folly, righteousness and wickedness, exploring how these fundamental orientations shape every aspect of life. The chapter emphasizes that true wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD and manifests in practical areas like speech, relationships, work, and justice. Through vivid imagery and pointed observations, it demonstrates that wise living leads to life and blessing, while foolishness inevitably results in destruction and death.

Context

This chapter continues Proverbs' exploration of practical wisdom begun in earlier chapters, building toward the more complex teachings that follow in chapters 15-16.

Key Themes

Outline

  • 1-6
    Foundations of Wisdom and FollyContrasts how wisdom builds up while folly destroys, emphasizing the fear of the LORD and truthful speech.
  • 7-12
    Discernment and DeceptionWarns against associating with fools and highlights the importance of careful thinking over self-deception.
  • 13-18
    Hidden Realities and ConsequencesReveals that appearances can be deceiving and that people ultimately reap what they sow.
  • 19-24
    Social Dynamics and JusticeAddresses relationships between rich and poor, emphasizing compassion and the value of hard work.
  • 25-31
    Fear of the LORD and CharacterReturns to the fear of the LORD as life's foundation, promoting truthfulness, patience, and care for the needy.
  • 32-35
    Ultimate DestiniesConcludes with the eternal security of the righteous and wisdom's power to transform nations and individuals.

Wisdom, Folly, and Understanding

14:1–14:18
wisdominstructioncontemplative

Contrasts between wisdom and folly, emphasizing how the wise fear the LORD, speak truth, and build up, while fools bring destruction through their words and ways. The passage highlights the importance of discernment and the consequences of one's choices.

theme_rarity

Proverbs 14:9 uniquely pairs "atonement" with "truth" when contrasting how fools mock guilt offerings while the upright find favor, creating the Bible's only intersection of sacrificial and epistemological themes.

Justice, Compassion, and Righteousness

14:19–14:35
wisdominstructioncontemplative

Teaches about justice and compassion toward the poor, the security found in fearing the LORD, and how righteousness benefits both individuals and nations. Emphasizes that showing kindness to the needy honors God while oppressing them shows contempt for the Creator.

theme_rarity

Proverbs 14:19-35 uniquely interweaves "righteousness" and "compassion" as the only biblical passage where these themes explicitly converge to define national prosperity.

Proverbs 14:3

Proverbs 17:28lexical

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.

Proverbs 10:8lexical

The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall.

Proverbs 14:4

Isaiah 1:3lexical

The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Israel doesn’t know. My people don’t consider.”

Proverbs 14:5

Proverbs 19:5lexical

A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.

Proverbs 19:9lexical

A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.

Proverbs 6:19lexical

a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.

Proverbs 12:17lexical

He who is truthful testifies honestly, but a false witness lies.

Habakkuk 2:3lexical

For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hurries toward the end, and won’t prove false. Though it takes time…

Proverbs 14:6

Proverbs 19:25lexical

Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

Daniel 1:4lexical

youths in whom was no defect, but well-favored, skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding science, a…

Proverbs 15:14lexical

The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

Proverbs 18:15lexical

The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Proverbs 14:7

Proverbs 15:7lexical

The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.

Proverbs 14:8

Proverbs 13:16lexical

Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

Proverbs 12:23lexical

A prudent man keeps his knowledge, but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.

Proverbs 15:14lexical

The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

Proverbs 17:24lexical

Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

Proverbs 14:12

Proverbs 16:25lexical

There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Numbers 23:10lexical

Who can count the dust of Jacob, or count the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous! Let my last…

Proverbs 14:15

Proverbs 27:12lexical

A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

Proverbs 22:3lexical

A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

Proverbs 14:18

Proverbs 13:16lexical

Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

Proverbs 12:23lexical

A prudent man keeps his knowledge, but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.

Proverbs 22:3lexical

A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

Proverbs 27:12lexical

A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

Proverbs 14:20

Zechariah 8:17lexical

and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath; for all these are things th…

Proverbs 14:23

Proverbs 21:5lexical

The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.

Proverbs 14:24

Proverbs 26:5lexical

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 15:2lexical

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools gush out folly.

Proverbs 14:25

Proverbs 6:19lexical

a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.

Proverbs 19:5lexical

A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.

Proverbs 19:9lexical

A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.

Proverbs 12:17lexical

He who is truthful testifies honestly, but a false witness lies.

Proverbs 14:27

Proverbs 13:14lexical

The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.

Proverbs 14:29

Proverbs 16:32lexical

One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.

Proverbs 14:31

Amos 4:1lexical

Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy,…

Proverbs 14:33

Proverbs 17:24lexical

Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

Interlinear

Word-by-word original language

v. 1
v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
v. 9
v. 10
v. 11
v. 12
v. 13
v. 14
v. 15
v. 16
v. 17
v. 18
v. 19
v. 20
v. 21
v. 22
v. 23
v. 24
v. 25
v. 26
v. 27
v. 28
v. 29
v. 30
v. 31
v. 32
v. 33
v. 34
v. 35