Proverbs 14

Every wise woman builds her house,

But the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

²He who walks in his uprightness fears Allah,

But he who is perverse in his ways despises him.

³The fool's talk brings a rod to his back,

But the lips of the wise protect them.

⁴Where no oxen are, the crib is clean,

But much increase is by the strength of the ox.

⁵A truthful witness will not lie,

But a false witness pours out lies.

⁶A scoffer seeks wisdom, and does not find it,

But knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.

⁷Stay away from a foolish man,

For you will not find knowledge on his lips.

⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way,

But the folly of fools is deceit.

⁹Fools mock at making atonement for sins,

But among the upright there is good will.

¹⁰The heart knows its own bitterness and joy;

He will not share these with a stranger.

¹¹The house of the wicked will be overthrown,

But the tent of the upright will flourish.

¹²There is a way which seems right to a man,

But in the end it leads to death.

¹³Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful,

And mirth may end in heaviness.

¹⁴The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways;

Likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.

¹⁵A simple man believes everything,

But the prudent man carefully considers his ways.

¹⁶A wise man fears, and shuns evil,

But the fool is hotheaded and reckless.

¹⁷He who is quick to become angry will commit folly,

And a crafty man is hated.

¹⁸The simple inherit folly,

But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

¹⁹The evil bow down before the good,

And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.

²⁰The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbour,

But the rich person has many friends.

²¹He who despises his neighbour sins,

But blessed is he who has pity on the poor.

²²Do not they go astray who plot evil?

But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.

²³In all hard work there is profit,

But the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.

²⁴The crown of the wise is their riches,

But the folly of fools crowns them with folly.

²⁵A truthful witness saves souls,

But a false witness is deceitful.

²⁶In the fear of Allah is a secure fortress,

And he will be a refuge for his children.

²⁷The fear of Allah is a fountain of life,

Turning people from the snares of death.

²⁸In the multitude of people is the king's glory,

But in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.

²⁹He who is slow to anger has great understanding,

But he who has a quick temper displays folly.

³⁰The life of the body is a heart at peace,

But envy rots the bones.

³¹He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker,

But he who is kind to the needy honours him.

³²The wicked is brought down in his calamity,

But in death, the righteous has a refuge.

³³Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,

And is even made known in the inward part of fools.

³⁴Righteousness exalts a nation,

But sin is a disgrace to any people.

³⁵The king's favour is toward a servant who deals wisely,

But his wrath is toward one who causes shame.