Proverbs 14 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
10th century BCE, during the reign of King Solomon (c. 970–931 BCE)
Location
Jerusalem, Kingdom of Israel
Audience
The people of Israel, especially the royal court, youth, and leaders
Situation
A collection of individual wisdom proverbs providing practical moral and ethical guidance for everyday life, contrasting wise and foolish behavior.
Key Background
The Book of Proverbs is primarily attributed to Solomon, famed for his unparalleled wisdom granted by God (1 Kings 3:5-14; 4:29-34). Chapter 14 features antithetical sayings on themes like prudence, honesty, diligence, family life, speech, and fearing the Lord. These proverbs were compiled to instruct Israelites in righteous living amid a prosperous but tempting monarchy era.
A woman up her household, but a one tears it apart with her own hands.
Someone who lives with honors but someone whose ways are despises him.
A fool's talk is a that invites punishment on his own back, but wise people are protected by what they say.
Where there are no the feeding trough is empty -- but a strong ox brings an abundant
A trustworthy doesn't lie, but a dishonest out deception.
A looks for wisdom and finds nothing, but knowledge comes easily to someone with
Stay away from a -- you won't learn a thing from them.
The wisdom of a person is understanding which way to go; the foolishness of fools is
Fools mock the idea of for their but among upright people there is will.
The knows its own bitterness, and no outsider can fully share in its joy.
The house of the will be demolished, but the tent of the will
There's a that seems right to a person, but it ends in
Even in laughter the can ache, and joy can end in grief.
The get what their ways deserve, and a good person is rewarded for theirs.
A person believes anything, but a person watches where they're going.
A wise person is and avoids danger, but a fool charges ahead
A person does foolish things, and a is hated.
The naive foolishness, but the shrewd are with knowledge.
Evil people will down before good people, and the wicked will be at the of the just.
The are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have plenty of
Whoever down on their neighbor is but is for whoever is kind to those in
Don't those who go astray? But those who plan for good find and
All leads to but mere talk leads only to poverty.
The of the wise is their wealth, but the of fools is foolishness.
A saves lives, but a liar out deception.
In the of there is and his children will have a place of
The awe of Yahweh is a of turning people away from the of
A large population is a king's but without people a ruler has nothing.
Whoever is to has great understanding, but a quick temper on
A gives life to the body, but the
Whoever the poor insults their but whoever is kind to the honors him.
The wicked are brought down by their own but even in death the upright have a
Wisdom in the heart of someone who understands, but among fools it has to
lifts up a nation, but entire peoples.
A king is pleased with a servant, but his anger falls on one who acts