# Proverbs 14 (New King James Version)
The Ways of Life and Death

##### Chapter 14
###### 1 The wise woman builds her house,  
But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

###### 2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,  
But _he who is_ perverse in his ways despises Him.

###### 3 In the mouth of a fool _is_ a rod of pride,  
But the lips of the wise will preserve them.

###### 4 Where no oxen _are,_ the trough _is_ clean;  
But much increase _comes_ by the strength of an ox.

###### 5 A faithful witness does not lie,  
But a false witness will utter lies.

###### 6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not _find it,_  
But knowledge _is_ easy to him who understands.  

###### 7 Go from the presence of a foolish man,  
When you do not perceive _in him_ the lips of knowledge.  

###### 8 The wisdom of the prudent _is_ to understand his way,  
But the folly of fools _is_ deceit.

###### 9 Fools mock at sin,  
But among the upright _there is_ favor.

###### 10 The heart knows its own bitterness,  
And a stranger does not share its joy.

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

###### 12 There is a way _that seems_ right to a man,  
But its end _is_ the way of death.

###### 13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,  
And the end of mirth _may be_ grief.

###### 14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,  
But a good man _will be satisfied_ from above.

###### 15 The simple believes every word,  
But the prudent considers well his steps.  

###### 16 A wise _man_ fears and departs from evil,  
But a fool rages and is self-confident.  

###### 17 A quick-tempered _man_ acts foolishly,  
And a man of wicked intentions is hated.  

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

###### 19 The evil will bow before the good,  
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

###### 20 The poor _man_ is hated even by his own neighbor,  
But the rich _has_ many friends.  

###### 21 He who despises his neighbor sins;  
But he who has mercy on the poor, happy _is_ he.

###### 22 Do they not go astray who devise evil?  
But mercy and truth _belong_ to those who devise good.

###### 23 In all labor there is profit,  
But idle chatter _leads_ only to poverty.

###### 24 The crown of the wise is their riches,  
_But_ the foolishness of fools _is_ folly.

###### 25 A true witness delivers souls,  
But a deceitful _witness_ speaks lies.

###### 26 In the fear of the Lord _there is_ strong confidence,  
And His children will have a place of refuge.  

###### 27 The fear of the Lord _is_ a fountain of life,  
To turn _one_ away from the snares of death.

###### 28 In a multitude of people _is_ a king's honor,  
But in the lack of people _is_ the downfall of a prince.

###### 29 _He who is_ slow to wrath has great understanding,  
But _he who is_ impulsive exalts folly.

###### 30 A sound heart _is_ life to the body,  
But envy _is_ rottenness to the bones.

###### 31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,  
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

###### 32 The wicked is banished in his wickedness,  
But the righteous has a refuge in his death.

###### 33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,  
But _what is_ in the heart of fools is made known.

###### 34 Righteousness exalts a nation,  
But sin _is_ a reproach to _any_ people.

###### 35 The king's favor _is_ toward a wise servant,  
But his wrath _is against_ him who causes shame.