> [[proverbs-13|← Previous]] | [[proverbs-00|TOC]] | [[proverbs-15|Next →]] --- # Proverbs, Chapter 14 ## Chapter 14 1 Wisdom builds her house, ^proverbs-14-1 but Folly tears hers down with her own hands. 2 Those who walk uprightly fear the LORD, ^proverbs-14-2 but those who are devious in their ways spurn him. 3 In the mouth of the fool is a rod for pride, ^proverbs-14-3 but the lips of the wise preserve them. 4 Where there are no oxen, the crib is clean; ^proverbs-14-4 but abundant crops come through the strength of the bull. 5 A trustworthy witness does not lie, ^proverbs-14-5 but one who spouts lies makes a lying witness. 6 The scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, ^proverbs-14-6 but knowledge is easy for the intelligent. 7 Go from the face of the fool; ^proverbs-14-7 you get no knowledge from such lips. 8 The wisdom of the shrewd enlightens their way, ^proverbs-14-8 but the folly of fools is deceit. 9 The wicked scorn a guilt offering, ^proverbs-14-9 but the upright find acceptance. 10 The heart knows its own bitterness, ^proverbs-14-10 and its joy no stranger shares. 11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, ^proverbs-14-11 but the tent of the upright will flourish. 12 Sometimes a way seems right, ^proverbs-14-12 but the end of it leads to death! 13 Even in laughter the heart may be sad, ^proverbs-14-13 and the end of joy may be sorrow. 14 From their own ways turncoats are sated, ^proverbs-14-14 from their own actions, the loyal. 15 The naive believe everything, ^proverbs-14-15 but the shrewd watch their steps. 16 The wise person is cautious and turns from evil; ^proverbs-14-16 the fool is reckless and gets embroiled. 17 The quick-tempered make fools of themselves, ^proverbs-14-17 and schemers are hated. 18 The simple have folly as an adornment, ^proverbs-14-18 but the shrewd wear knowledge as a crown. 19 The malicious bow down before the good, ^proverbs-14-19 and the wicked, at the gates of the just. 20 Even by their neighbors the poor are despised, ^proverbs-14-20 but a rich person’s friends are many. 21 Whoever despises the hungry comes up short, ^proverbs-14-21 but happy the one who is kind to the poor! 22 Do not those who plan evil go astray? ^proverbs-14-22 But those who plan good win steadfast loyalty. 23 In all labor there is profit, ^proverbs-14-23 but mere talk tends only to loss. 24 The crown of the wise is wealth; ^proverbs-14-24 the diadem of fools is folly. 25 The truthful witness saves lives, ^proverbs-14-25 but whoever utters lies is a betrayer. 26 The fear of the LORD is a strong defense, ^proverbs-14-26 a refuge even for one’s children. 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, ^proverbs-14-27 turning one from the snares of death. 28 A multitude of subjects is the glory of the king; ^proverbs-14-28 but if his people are few, a prince is ruined. 29 Long-suffering results in great wisdom; ^proverbs-14-29 a short temper raises folly high. 30 A tranquil mind gives life to the body, ^proverbs-14-30 but jealousy rots the bones. 31 Those who oppress the poor revile their Maker, ^proverbs-14-31 but those who are kind to the needy honor him. 32 The wicked are overthrown by their wickedness, ^proverbs-14-32 but the just find a refuge in their integrity. 33 Wisdom can remain silent in the discerning heart, ^proverbs-14-33 but among fools she must make herself known. 34 Justice exalts a nation, ^proverbs-14-34 but sin is a people’s disgrace. 35 The king favors the skillful servant, ^proverbs-14-35 but the shameless one incurs his wrath. \* (14:1) The relationship between Wisdom, personified as a woman, and building a house is a constant theme. As elsewhere, the book here warns against the wrong woman and praises the right woman. \* (14:4) If one has no animals, one does not have the burden of keeping the crib full, but without them one will have no crops to fill the barn. Colon B reverses the sense of colon A and also reverses the consonants of *bar* (“clean”) to *rab* (“abundant”). \* (14:5) On discerning the truthfulness of witnesses; see [12:17]. \* (14:8) Wisdom enables the shrewd to know their path is right but folly leads fools on the wrong path (“deceit”), which calls down retribution. \* (14:10) The heart in Proverbs is where a person’s sense impressions are stored and reflected upon. It is thus one’s most personal and individual part. One’s sorrows and joys (= the full range of emotions) cannot be shared fully with another. Verse [13] expresses the same individuality of the human person. \* (14:11) The traditional fixed pair “house” and “tent” is used to express the paradox that a house can be less secure than a tent if there is no justice. \* (14:15) The naive gullibly rely on others’ words whereas the shrewd watch their own steps. \* (14:18) The inner quality of a person, simple or wise, will eventually be revealed. \* (14:21) The paradox is that anyone who spurns the hungry will lack something, but anyone who shows mercy (presumably by giving to the poor) will gain prosperity. \* (14:29) A series of puns on short and long; lit., “long of nostrils (idiom for “patient”), large in wisdom, / short in breath (idiom for “impatient”), makes folly tall.” \* (14:33) Wisdom can remain silent in a wise person as a welcome friend. But it must speak out among fools, for the dissonance is so strong. \* (14:34) The rare noun “disgrace” occurs elsewhere only in [Lv 20:17]. In measuring the greatness of a nation, one is tempted to consider territory, wealth, history, but the most important criterion is its relationship to God (“justice”). a. (14:5) [Prv 12:17]. b. (14:11) [Prv 3:33]; [12:7]; [15:25]. c. (14:12) [Prv 16:25]. d. (14:20) [Prv 19:4], [7]; [Sir 6:8], [12]. e. (14:29) [Prv 16:32]; [19:11]; [Jas 1:19]. f. (14:31) [Prv 17:5]. g. (14:33) [Prv 1:22]; [8:1]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[proverbs-13|← Previous]] | [[proverbs-00|TOC]] | [[proverbs-15|Next →]]