Proverbs 14:15–24
15 zThe simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
16 aOne who is wise is cautious4 and bturns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
17 A man of cquick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 dThe evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 eThe poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
fbut the rich has many friends.
21 Whoever gdespises his neighbor is a sinner,
but hblessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22 Do they not go astray who idevise evil?
Those who devise good meet5 jsteadfast love and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk ktends only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the folly of fools brings folly.
Proverbs 14:15–24 — The New International Version (NIV)
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.
Proverbs 14:15–24 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
15 The simple believeth every word:
But the prudent man looketh well to his going.
16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil:
But the fool rageth, and is confident.
17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly:
And a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly:
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before the good;
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour:
But the rich hath many friends.
21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth:
But he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
22 Do they not err that devise evil?
But mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
23 In all labour there is profit:
But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches:
But the foolishness of fools is folly.
Proverbs 14:15–24 — New Living Translation (NLT)
15 Only simpletons believe everything they’re told!
The prudent carefully consider their steps.
16 The wise are cautious and avoid danger;
fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence.
17 Short-tempered people do foolish things,
and schemers are hated.
18 Simpletons are clothed with foolishness,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 Evil people will bow before good people;
the wicked will bow at the gates of the godly.
20 The poor are despised even by their neighbors,
while the rich have many “friends.”
21 It is a sin to belittle one’s neighbor;
blessed are those who help the poor.
22 If you plan to do evil, you will be lost;
if you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love and faithfulness.
23 Work brings profit,
but mere talk leads to poverty!
24 Wealth is a crown for the wise;
the effort of fools yields only foolishness.
Proverbs 14:15–24 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
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.
Proverbs 14:15–24 — New Century Version (NCV)
15 Fools will believe anything,
but the wise think about what they do.
16 Wise people are careful and stay out of trouble,
but fools are careless and quick to act.
17 Someone with a quick temper does foolish things,
but someone with understanding remains calm.
18 Fools are rewarded with nothing but more foolishness,
but the wise are rewarded with knowledge.
19 Evil people will bow down to those who are good;
the wicked will bow down at the door of those who do right.
20 The poor are rejected, even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends.
21 It is a sin to hate your neighbor,
but being kind to the needy brings happiness.
22 Those who make evil plans will be ruined,
but those who plan to do good will be loved and trusted.
23 Those who work hard make a profit,
but those who only talk will be poor.
24 Wise people are rewarded with wealth,
but fools only get more foolishness.
Proverbs 14:15–24 — American Standard Version (ASV)
15 The simple believeth every word;
But the prudent man looketh well to his going.
16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil;
But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
17 He that is soon angry will deal foolishly;
And a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly;
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good;
And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbor;
But the rich hath many friends.
21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth;
But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.
22 Do they not err that devise evil?
But mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit;
But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches;
But the folly of fools is only folly.
Proverbs 14:15–24 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
15 The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man heedeth his going.
16 A wise man feareth and departeth from evil; but the foolish is overbearing and confident.
17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly, and a man of mischievous devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly; but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous man.
20 He that is poor is hated even of his own neighbour; but the rich hath many friends.
21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth; but he that is gracious to the afflicted, happy is he.
22 Do they not err that devise evil? but loving-kindness and truth are for those that devise good.
23 In all labour there is profit; but the talk of the lips tendeth only to want.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches; the folly of the foolish is folly.
Proverbs 14:15–24 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
15 A gullible person believes anything,
but a sensible person watches his step.
16 A wise person is cautious and turns away from evil,
but a fool is carelessand overconfident.
17 A short-tempered person acts stupidly,
and a person who plots evil is hated.
18 Gullible people are gifted with stupidity,
but sensible people are crowned with knowledge.
19 Evil people will bow to good people.
Wicked people will bow at the gates of a righteous person.
20 A poor person is hated even by his neighbor,
but a rich person is loved by many.
21 Whoever despises his neighbor sins,
but blessed is the one who is kind to humble people.
22 Don’t those who stray plan what is evil,
while those who are merciful and faithful plan what is good?
23 In hard work there is always something gained,
but idle talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of wise people is their wealth.
The stupidity of fools is just that—stupidity!
Proverbs 14:15–24 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
15 The inexperienced one believes anything,
but the sensible one watches his steps.
16 A wise man is cautious and turns from evil,
but a fool is easily angered and is careless.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
and a man who schemes is hated.
18 The inexperienced inherit foolishness,
but the sensible are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before those who are good,
the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.
20 A poor man is hated even by his neighbor,
but there are many who love the rich.
21 The one who despises his neighbor sins,
but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.
22 Don’t those who plan evil go astray?
But those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.
23 There is profit in all hard work,
but endless talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the foolishness of fools produces foolishness.
Proverbs 14:15–24 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
15 The simple believe everything,
but the clever consider their steps.
16 The wise are cautious and turn away from evil,
but the fool throws off restraint and is careless.
17 One who is quick-tempered acts foolishly,
and the schemer is hated.
18 The simple are adorned with folly,
but the clever are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor are disliked even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends.
21 Those who despise their neighbors are sinners,
but happy are those who are kind to the poor.
22 Do they not err that plan evil?
Those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wisdom,
but folly is the garland of fools.
Proverbs 14:15–24 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
15 The simple will believe every word,
but the clever will consider his step.
16 The wise is cautious and turns from evil,
but the fool throws off restraint and is confident.
17 He who is short of temper will act foolishly,
and the man who schemes will be hated.
18 The simple are adorned with folly,
but the clever are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
but the lovers of the rich are many.
21 He who despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but he who has mercy on the poor blesses him.
22 Have they not erred, those who plan evil?
But loyalty and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
23 In all toil, there is profit,
but the talk of lips leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth;
the folly of fools is folly.
Proverbs 14:15–24 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
15 A childish person believes anything.
But a wise person thinks about how he lives.
16 A wise person has respect for the Lord and avoids evil.
But a foolish person gets mad and is thoughtless.
17 Anyone who gets angry quickly does foolish things.
And a man who is tricky is hated.
18 Childish people act in keeping with their foolish ways.
But knowledge makes wise people feel like kings.
19 Evil people will bow down in front of good people.
And those who do wrong will bow down at the gates of those who do right.
20 Poor people are avoided even by their neighbors.
But rich people have many friends.
21 Anyone who hates his neighbor commits sin.
But blessed is the person who is kind to those in need.
22 Those who plan evil go down the wrong path.
But those who plan good find love and truth.
23 All hard work pays off.
But if all you do is talk, you will be poor.
24 The wealth of wise people is their crown.
But the foolish ways of foolish people lead to what is foolish.
Proverbs 14:15–24 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
15 The naive believes everything,
But the sensible man considers his steps.
16 A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil,
But a fool is arrogant and careless.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The naive inherit foolishness,
But the sensible are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil will bow down before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is hated even by his neighbor,
But those who love the rich are many.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins,
But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.
22 Will they not go astray who devise evil?
But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit,
But mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the folly of fools is foolishness.