Proverbs 14

1 Wisdom builds her house, but Folly tears hers down with her own hands.
2 He who walks uprightly fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways spurns him.
3 In the mouth of the fool is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the crib remains empty; but large crops come through the strength of the bull.
5 A truthful witness does not lie, but a false witness utters lies.
6 The senseless man seeks in vain for wisdom, but knowledge is easy to the man of intelligence.
7 To avoid the foolish man, take steps! But knowing lips one meets with by surprise.
8 The shrewd man's wisdom gives him knowledge of his way, but the folly of fools is their deception.
9 Guilt lodges in the tents of the arrogant, but favor in the house of the just.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and in its joy no one else shares.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 Sometimes a way seems right to a man, but the end of it leads to death!
13 Even in laughter the heart may be sad, and the end of joy may be sorrow.
14 The scoundrel suffers the consequences of his ways, and the good man reaps the fruit of his paths.
15 The simpleton believes everything, but the shrewd man measures his steps.
16 The wise man is cautious and shuns evil; the fool is reckless and sure of himself.
17 The quick-tempered man makes a fool of himself, but the prudent man is at peace.
18 The adornment of simpletons is folly, but shrewd men gain the crown of knowledge.
19 Evil men must bow down before the good, and the wicked, at the gates of the just.
20 Even by his neighbor the poor man is hated, but the friends of the rich are many.
21 He sins who despises the hungry; but happy is he who is kind to the poor!
22 Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those intent on good gain kindness and constancy.
23 In all labor there is profit, but mere talk tends only to penury.
24 The crown of the wise is resourcefulness; the diadem of fools is folly.
25 The truthful witness saves lives, but he who utters lies is a betrayer.
26 In the fear of the LORD is a strong defense; even for one's children he will be a refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that a man may avoid the snares of death.
28 In many subjects lies the glory of the king; but if his people are few, it is the prince's ruin.
29 The patient man shows much good sense, but the quick-tempered man displays folly at its height.
30 A tranquil mind gives life to the body, but jealousy rots the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor blasphemes his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy glorifies him.
32 The wicked man is overthrown by his wickedness, but the just man finds a refuge in his honesty.
33 In the heart of the intelligent wisdom abides, but in the bosom of fools it is unknown.
34 Virtue exalts a nation, but sin is a people's disgrace.
35 The king favors the intelligent servant, but the worthless one incurs his wrath.

Proverbs 15

1 A mild answer calms wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise pours out knowledge, but the mouth of fools spurts forth folly.
3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse one crushes the spirit.
5 The fool spurns his father's admonition, but prudent is he who heeds reproof.
6 In the house of the just there are ample resources, but the earnings of the wicked are in turmoil.
7 The lips of the wise disseminate knowledge, but the heart of fools is perverted.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves the man who pursues virtue.
10 Severe punishment is in store for the man who goes astray; he who hates reproof will die.
11 The nether world and the abyss lie open before the LORD; how much more the hearts of men!
12 The senseless man loves not to be reproved; to wise men he will not go.
13 A glad heart lights up the face, but by mental anguish the spirit is broken.
14 The mind of the intelligent man seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
15 Every day is miserable for the depressed, but a lighthearted man has a continual feast.
16 Better a little with fear of the LORD than a great fortune with anxiety.
17 Better a dish of herbs where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it.
18 An ill-tempered man stirs up strife, but a patient man allays discord.
19 The way of the sluggard is hemmed in as with thorns, but the path of the diligent is a highway.
20 A wise son makes his father glad, but a fool of a man despises his mother.
21 Folly is joy to the senseless man, but the man of understanding goes the straight way.
22 Plans fail when there is no counsel, but they succeed when counselors are many.
23 There is joy for a man in his utterance; a word in season, how good it is!
24 The path of life leads the prudent man upward, that he may avoid the nether world below.
25 The LORD overturns the house of the proud, but he preserves intact the widow's landmark.
26 The wicked man's schemes are an abomination to the LORD, but the pure speak what is pleasing to him.
27 He who is greedy of gain brings ruin on his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.
28 The just man weighs well his utterance, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.
29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but the prayer of the just he hears.
30 A cheerful glance brings joy to the heart; good news invigorates the bones.
31 He who listens to salutary reproof will abide among the wise.
32 He who rejects admonition despises his own soul, but he who heeds reproof gains understanding.
33 The fear of the LORD is training for wisdom, and humility goes before honors.

Proverbs 16

1 Man may make plans in his heart, but what the tongue utters is from the LORD.
2 All the ways of a man may be pure in his own eyes, but it is the LORD who proves the spirit.
3 Entrust your works to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.
4 The LORD has made everything for his own ends, even the wicked for the evil day.
5 Every proud man is an abomination to the LORD; I assure you that he will not go unpunished.
6 By kindness and piety guilt is expiated, and by the fear of the LORD man avoids evil.
7 When the LORD is pleased with a man's ways, he makes even his enemies be at peace with him.
8 Better a little with virtue, than a large income with injustice.
9 In his mind a man plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.
10 The king's lips are an oracle; no judgment he pronounces is false.
11 Balance and scales belong to the LORD; all the weights used with them are his concern.
12 Kings have a horror of wrongdoing, for by righteousness the throne endures.
13 The king takes delight in honest lips, and the man who speaks what is right he loves.
14 The king's wrath is like messengers of death, but a wise man can pacify it.
15 In the light of the king's countenance is life, and his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
16 How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.
17 The path of the upright avoids misfortune; he who pays attention to his way safeguards his life.
18 Pride goes before disaster, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 It is better to be humble with the meek than to share plunder with the proud.
20 He who plans a thing will be successful; happy is he who trusts in the LORD!
21 The wise man is esteemed for his discernment, yet pleasing speech increases his persuasiveness.
22 Good sense is a fountain of life to its possessor, but folly brings chastisement on fools.
23 The mind of the wise man makes him eloquent, and augments the persuasiveness of his lips.
24 Pleasing words are a honeycomb, sweet to the taste and healthful to the body.
25 Sometimes a way seems right to a man, but the end of it leads to death!
26 The laborer's appetite labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.
27 A scoundrel is a furnace of evil, and on his lips there is a scorching fire.
28 An intriguer sows discord, and a talebearer separates bosom friends.
29 A lawless man allures his neighbor, and leads him into a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eye is plotting trickery; he who compresses his lips has mischief ready.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by virtuous living.
32 A patient man is better than a warrior, and he who rules his temper, than he who takes a city.
33 When the lot is cast into the lap, its decision depends entirely on the LORD.

Proverbs 17

1 Better a dry crust with peace than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 An intelligent servant will rule over a worthless son, and will share the inheritance with the brothers.
3 The crucible for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the tester of hearts is the LORD.
4 The evil man gives heed to wicked lips, and listens to falsehood from a mischievous tongue.
5 He who mocks the poor blasphemes his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their parentage.
7 Fine words are out of place in a fool; how much more, lying words in a noble!
8 A man who has a bribe to offer rates it a magic stone; at every turn it brings him success.
9 He who covers up a misdeed fosters friendship, but he who gossips about it separates friends.
10 A single reprimand does more for a man of intelligence than a hundred lashes for a fool.
11 On rebellion alone is the wicked man bent, but a merciless messenger will be sent against him.
12 Face a bear robbed of her cubs, but never a fool in his folly!
13 If a man returns evil for good, from his house evil will not depart.
14 The start of strife is like the opening of a dam; therefore, check a quarrel before it begins!
15 He who condones the wicked, he who condemns the just, are both an abomination to the LORD.
16 Of what use in the fool's hand are the means to buy wisdom, since he has no mind for it?
17 He who is a friend is always a friend, and a brother is born for the time of stress.
18 Senseless is the man who gives his hand in pledge, who becomes surety for his neighbor.
19 He who loves strife loves guilt; he who builds his gate high courts disaster.
20 He who is perverse in heart finds no good, and a double-tongued man falls into trouble.
21 To be a fool's parent is grief for a man; the father of a numskull has no joy.
22 A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones.
23 The wicked man accepts a concealed bribe to pervert the course of justice.
24 The man of intelligence fixes his gaze on wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is vexation to his father, and bitter sorrow to her who bore him.
26 It is wrong to fine an innocent man, but beyond reason to scourge princes.
27 He who spares his words is truly wise, and he who is chary of speech is a man of intelligence.
28 Even a fool, if he keeps silent, is considered wise; if he closes his lips, intelligent.