Proverbs 14

1 Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.

3 The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.

4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

5 A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.

7 Stay away from a foolish man, for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.

9 Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.

11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish.

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

13 Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.

14 The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.

15 A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.

16 A wise man fears and shuns evil, but the fool is hot headed and reckless.

17 He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated.

18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.

21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.

22 Don’t they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.

23 In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.

25 A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.

26 In the fear of the LORD is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.

27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning people from the snares of death.

28 In the multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.

29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.

30 The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.

31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.

32 The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but in death, the righteous has a refuge.

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.

34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

35 The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.

Around Proverbs 14

Context

Context for this book is being written. A note appears here only once it names its sources.

AI explanation

About Proverbs as a whole · Written by an AI model · Not reviewed by a theological reader

This explanation was written by an AI model to help you get started. It names no sources and can contain mistakes. Scripture comes first, and context with sources is shown separately on this page.

What this book is about

Two voices call from the high places of a city, and both want the same passers-by. “Wisdom has built her house”, the ninth chapter says. She has set her table and sent out her maidens, and she calls the simple to leave their simple ways. Across the street, a loud and undisciplined woman, Folly, sits at her door and calls the very same crowd.

That picture captures the whole book. Proverbs gathers short sayings and longer poems about living wisely. Its starting point is that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” It contrasts the wise and the foolish in speech, work, money, friendship, marriage and the raising of children.

In the opening chapters wisdom is pictured as a woman calling out in the streets. The book ends with a poem in praise of a capable wife.

Background

Most of the sayings are linked with Solomon. Others are credited to Agur, to King Lemuel and to unnamed wise teachers, and one section was copied by officials of King Hezekiah about two centuries after Solomon (25:1). Similar collections of wisdom are known from Egypt and Mesopotamia.

How Christians read it

A proverb states what is generally true, not a guarantee for every case. Reading the sayings as promises leads to disappointment, and the books of Job and Ecclesiastes show the exceptions. The New Testament speaks of Christ as the wisdom of God, and many Christians read the figure of wisdom in chapter 8 in that light.

About this explanation

Written by Claude Sonnet 5.5, an AI model, on 19 October 2026. It draws on the WEB text and general knowledge and was not checked against sources by a person. Every quotation from Scripture is checked automatically against the WEB text.

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World English Bible. Public-domain source and edition notes