Proverbs 14

1 The wise woman builds her house,
    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

2 Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly,
    but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

3 A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,
    but the lips of the wise protect them.

4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
    but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.

5 An honest witness does not deceive,
    but a false witness pours out lies.

6 The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

7 Stay away from a fool,
    for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
    but the folly of fools is deception.

9 Fools mock at making amends for sin,
    but goodwill is found among the upright.

10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 There is a way that appears to be right,
    but in the end it leads to death.

13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
    and rejoicing may end in grief.

14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,
    and the good rewarded for theirs.

15 The simple believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps.

16 The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,
    but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

17 A quick-tempered person does foolish things,
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.

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

19 Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
    and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
    but the rich have many friends.

21 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,
    but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.

22 Do not those who plot evil go astray?
    But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.

23 All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

24 The wealth of the wise is their crown,
    but the folly of fools yields folly.

25 A truthful witness saves lives,
    but a false witness is deceitful.

26 Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,
    and for their children it will be a refuge.

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
    turning a person from the snares of death.

28 A large population is a king’s glory,
    but without subjects a prince is ruined.

29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.

30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.

31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
    but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,
    but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.

33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
    but sin condemns any people.

35 A king delights in a wise servant,
    but a shameful servant arouses his fury.

Observation Questions

What does the wise woman do for her house? (verse 1)

What does the foolish woman do to her house? (verse 1)

What are the ways of those who despise the Lord? (verse 2)

Does a fool's mouth lash out with pride? (verse 3)

Do the lips of the wise protect them? (verse 3)

Does an honest witness deceive? (verse 5)

Does a false witness pour out lies? (verse 5)

Does a mocker seek wisdom? (verse 6)

Does knowledge come easily to the discerning? (verse 6)

Are you to stay away from a fool? (verse 7)

Do the prudent give thought to their ways? (verse 8 & 15)

Do fools mock at making amends for sin? (verse 9)

Will the house of the wicked be destroyed? (verse 11)

Will the tent of the upright flourish? (verse 11)

Will the faithless be repaid for their ways? (verse 14)

Will the good be rewarded for their ways? (verse 14)

Do the wise shun evil? (verse 16)

Does a quick-tempered person do foolish things? (verse 17)

Are the poor shunned even by their neighbors? (verse 20)

Is it a sin to despise one's neighbor? (verse 21)

Who is called blessed in verse 21?

What do those who plan what is good find? (verse 22)

Does all hard work bring a profit? (verse 23)

What does mere talk lead to? (verse 23)

Does a truthful witness save lives? (verse 25)

Is a false witness deceitful? (verse 25)

Is a prince ruined without subjects? (verse 28)

Does a patient person have great understanding? (verse 29)

What does a quick-tempered person display? (verse 29)

Does a heart at peace give life to the body? (verse 30)

Does envy rot the bones? (verse 30)

Do those who are kind to the needy honor God? (verse 31)

Do the righteous seek refuge in God? (verse 32)

Does righteousness exalt a nation? (verse 34)

Does sin condemn any people? (verse 34)

Does a king delight in a wise servant? (verse 35)