Proverbs · 35 verses
Proverbs 14
Every verse links to the people and places named in it, and to the passages readers connect it with.
The chapter
What happens here
Atlas's own reading, written from this chapter and nothing else, and published only once a person has approved it. Each scene names the verses it covers; the names inside it link to the people and places they name.
The ox is both the untidiness and the triumph: without it, the manger stays empty; with its strength, the harvest becomes abundant.
A house, a manger, and the speech of foolsvv. 1–9
A wise woman builds her house, while a foolish one manages the astonishing feat of demolishing hers with her own hands. The ox supplies the chapter’s most practical little parable: no oxen, no mess in the manger; no oxen, no abundant harvest either. Wisdom appears in the handling of speech, work, witnesses, and even the strange business of making amends, which fools mock while the upright find goodwill.
The inward country and its neighboursvv. 10–22
The heart keeps a private chamber: its bitterness is not shared by a stranger, nor its joy. A way may look right and still end in death, while laughter may carry an ache and joy may finish in sorrow—rather a crowded little procession of surprises. The simple believe every word, the prudent watch their steps, and the poor discover that neighbourly affection is not distributed as evenly as one might hope; kindness to them, however, is counted differently.
Labour, bones, kings, and the final servantvv. 23–35
Talk alone leads to poverty, whereas labour has profit; the fools’ effort, rather oddly, is simply folly. The chapter then widens its view from the body—tranquil hearts give life, envy rots bones—to kings and nations: a king’s splendour is a large population, and a prince’s ruin is a shortage of subjects. At the end stands the wise servant, a delight to the king, with the shameful servant receiving the royal alternative.
The text
Read it
Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.
Prov 14:1Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
Prov 14:2He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.
Prov 14:3The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
Prov 14:4Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.
Prov 14:5An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.
Prov 14:6A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
Prov 14:7Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.
Prov 14:8The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
Prov 14:9Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright.
Prov 14:10The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares in its joy.
Prov 14:11The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
Prov 14:12There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Prov 14:13Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow.
Prov 14:14The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways.
Prov 14:15The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.
Prov 14:16A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
Prov 14:17A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man is hated.
Prov 14:18The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
Prov 14:19The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
Prov 14:20The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich.
Prov 14:21He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
Prov 14:22Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness.
Prov 14:23There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
Prov 14:24The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly.
Prov 14:25A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful.
Prov 14:26He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.
Prov 14:27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
Prov 14:28A large population is a king’s splendor, but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.
Prov 14:29A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
Prov 14:30A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
Prov 14:31Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
Prov 14:32The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.
Prov 14:33Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; even among fools she is known.
Prov 14:34Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
Prov 14:35A king delights in a wise servant, but his anger falls on the shameful.
02 — Read alongside
Where this is echoed
Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 443 passages were voted onto 35 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.
- 12Proverbs 16:25There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
- 12Matthew 7:13–14Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
- 12Proverbs 12:15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.
- 1Proverbs 31:10–31A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
- 12Galatians 6:3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
- 1Proverbs 24:3–4By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established;
- 12Luke 13:24“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.
- 12Romans 6:21What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.
- 12Proverbs 30:12There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth.
- 23Proverbs 28:19The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
- 29James 1:19My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
- 1Proverbs 21:9Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
- 12James 1:22Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.
- 29Ecclesiastes 7:9Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.
- 30Proverbs 17:22A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
- 1Proverbs 21:19Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
Onward