ESV - Proverbs Chapter 14 to 15

14 14:1 The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. ²Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises him. ³By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,[1] but the lips of the wise will preserve them. ⁴Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. ⁵A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. ⁶A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. ⁷Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. ⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving. ⁹Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.^[2]¹⁰The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy. ¹¹The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. ¹²There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.^[3]¹³Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief. ¹⁴The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways. ¹⁵The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. ¹⁶One who is wise is cautious[4] and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. ¹⁷A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated. ¹⁸The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. ¹⁹The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous. ²⁰The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends. ²¹Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. ²²Do they not go astray who devise evil? Those who devise good meet[5] steadfast love and faithfulness. ²³In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. ²⁴The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly. ²⁵A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful. ²⁶In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. ²⁷The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. ²⁸In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined. ²⁹Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. ³⁰A tranquil[6] heart gives life to the flesh, but envy[7] makes the bones rot. ³¹Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. ³²The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death. ³³Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.^[8]³⁴Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. ³⁵A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

[1] Or In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride [2] Hebrew but among the upright is acceptance [3] Hebrew ways of death [4] Or fears [the Lord] [5] Or show [6] Or healing [7] Or jealousy [8] Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools

15 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. ²The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. ³The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. ⁴A gentle[9] tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. ⁵A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. ⁶In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. ⁷The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.^[10]⁸The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. ⁹The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves him who pursues righteousness. ¹⁰There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die. ¹¹Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the children of man! ¹²A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. ¹³A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. ¹⁴The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. ¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. ¹⁶Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. ¹⁷Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. ¹⁸A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. ¹⁹The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway. ²⁰A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother. ²¹Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead. ²²Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. ²³To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! ²⁴The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath. ²⁵The Lord tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow’s boundaries. ²⁶The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure. ²⁷Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live. ²⁸The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. ²⁹The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. ³⁰The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes^[11]the bones. ³¹The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. ³²Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. ³³The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

[9] Or healing [10] Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast [11] Hebrew makes fat