Proverbs 14:18-35

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

¹⁸ The simple are adorned with^[a] folly,
    but the clever are crowned with knowledge.
¹⁹ The evil bow down before the good,
    the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
²⁰ The poor are disliked even by their neighbors,
    but the rich have many friends.
²¹ Those who despise their neighbors are sinners,
    but happy are those who are kind to the poor.
²² Do they not err that plan evil?
    Those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.
²³ In all toil there is profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.
²⁴ The crown of the wise is their wisdom,^[b]
    but folly is the garland^[c] of fools.
²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives,
    but one who utters lies is a betrayer.
²⁶ In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,
    and one’s children will have a refuge.
²⁷ The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
    so that one may avoid the snares of death.
²⁸ The glory of a king is a multitude of people;
    without people a prince is ruined.
²⁹ Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
    but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
³⁰ A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh,
    but passion makes the bones rot.
³¹ Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker,
    but those who are kind to the needy honor him.
³² The wicked are overthrown by their evildoing,
    but the righteous find a refuge in their integrity.^[d]
33 Wisdom is at home in the mind of one who has understanding,
    but it is not^[e] known in the heart of fools.
³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation,
    but sin is a reproach to any people.
³⁵ A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor,
    but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.