160Hb. folly plucketh it down
14: 2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah; But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
14: 3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
14: 4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the strength of the ox.
14: 5 A faithful witness will not lie; But a false witness 161uttereth lies.
161Hb. breatheth out lies.
14: 6 A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.
14: 7 162Go into the presence of a foolish man, And thou shalt not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.
162Or, Go from the presence of a foolish man, For thou wilt not perceive in him the lips etc.
14: 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
14: 9 163A trespass-offering mocketh fools; But among the upright there is 164good will.
163Or, Fools make a mock at sin;
164Or, the favor of God.
14: 10 The heart knoweth the bitterness of its soul; And a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.
14: 11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; But the tent of the upright shall flourish.
14: 12 There is a way which 165seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.
165Or, is straight before a man;
14: 13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of mirth is heaviness.
14: 14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And a good man shall be satified from himself.
14: 15 The simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to his going.
14: 16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
14: 17 He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.
14: 18 The simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
14: 19 The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.
14: 20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends.
14: 21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.
14: 22 Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
14: 23 In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
14: 24 166The crown of the wise is their riches; But the folly of fools is only folly.
166Or, Their riches is a crown unto the wise;
14: 25 A true witness delivereth souls; But he that 167uttereth lies causeth deceit.
167Hb. breatheth out lies
14: 26 In the awe of Jehovah is strong confidence; And 168his children shall have a place of refuge.
168Or, the children of him that hath it shall have etc.
14: 27 The awe of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.
14: 28 In the multitude of people is the king’s glory; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
14: 29 He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit 169exalteth folly.
169Or, carrieth away folly.
14: 30 A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh; But 170envy is the rottenness of the bones.
170Or, jealousy
14: 31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.
14: 32 The wicked is thrust down in his 171evil-doing; But the righteous hath a refuge 172in his death.
171Or, calamity;
172So Massoretic, 4QProvb Vg. Sept. (Aram.) read in their piety (or, integrity).
14: 33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; 173But that which is in the inward part of fools is made known.
173Or, And in the midst of fools it maketh itself known.
14: 34 Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin 174is a reproach to any people.
174Lit. is a thing needing mercy to peoples. 4QProvb Sept., Vg. (Aram.) read diminishes peoples.
14: 35 The king’s favor is toward a servant that dealeth wisely; But his wrath will be against him that 175causeth shame.
175Or, doeth shamefully.
