18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 (A)The evil bow down before the good,
    the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 (B)The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
    (C)but the rich has many friends.
21 Whoever (D)despises his neighbor is a sinner,
    but (E)blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22 Do they not go astray who (F)devise evil?
    Those who devise good meet[a] (G)steadfast love and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
    but mere talk (H)tends 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 (I)breathes out lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord one has (J)strong confidence,
    and (K)his children will have (L)a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is (M)a fountain of life,
    that one may (N)turn away from the snares of death.
28 In (O)a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
    but without people a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is (P)slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30 A tranquil[b] heart gives (Q)life to the flesh,
    but (R)envy[c] makes (S)the bones rot.
31 Whoever oppresses a poor man (T)insults his (U)Maker,
    (V)but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
32 (W)The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
    but (X)the righteous finds refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom (Y)rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
    but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.[d]
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
    but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 A servant who deals wisely has (Z)the king's favor,
    but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:22 Or show
  2. Proverbs 14:30 Or healing
  3. Proverbs 14:30 Or jealousy
  4. Proverbs 14:33 Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools

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