Proverbs 14:7–16

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.

7 Leave the presence of a fool,

for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,

but the folly of fools is deceiving.

9 Fools mock at the guilt offering,

but the upright enjoy acceptance.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,

and no stranger shares 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 seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death.

13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,

and the end of joy may be grief.

14 The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways,

and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.

15 The simple believes everything,

but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

16 One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil,

but a fool is reckless and careless.

7 Go from the presence of a foolish man,

When thou perceivest not 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 make a mock at sin:

But among the righteous there is favour.

10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness;

And a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown:

But the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,

But the end thereof are the ways of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful;

And the end of that mirth is heaviness.

14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways:

And a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

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.

7 Stay away from fools,

for you won’t find knowledge on their lips.

8 The prudent understand where they are going,

but fools deceive themselves.

9 Fools make fun of guilt,

but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.

10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,

and no one else can fully share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

but the tent of the godly will flourish.

12 There is a path before each person that seems right,

but it ends in death.

13 Laughter can conceal a heavy heart,

but when the laughter ends, the grief remains.

14 Backsliders get what they deserve;

good people receive their reward.

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.

7 Stay away from fools,

because they can’t teach you anything.

8 A wise person will understand what to do,

but a foolish person is dishonest.

9 Fools don’t care if they sin,

but honest people work at being right.

10 No one else can know your sadness,

and strangers cannot share your joy.

11 The wicked person’s house will be destroyed,

but a good person’s tent will still be standing.

12 Some people think they are doing right,

but in the end it leads to death.

13 Someone who is laughing may be sad inside,

and joy may end in sadness.

14 Evil people will be paid back for their evil ways,

and good people will be rewarded for their good ones.

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.

7 Go into the presence of a foolish man,

And thou shalt 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 A trespass-offering mocketh fools;

But among the upright there is good will.

10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness;

And a stranger doth not inter-meddle with its joy.

11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown;

But the tent of the upright shall flourish.

12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man;

But the end thereof are the ways of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful;

And the end of mirth is heaviness.

14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways;

And a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

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.

7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, in whom thou perceivest not the lips of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way; but the folly of the foolish is deceit.

9 Fools make a mock at trespass; but for the upright there is favour.

10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness, and a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.

11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; but the tent of the upright shall flourish.

12 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of mirth is sadness.

14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways, and the good man from what is in himself.

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.

7 Stay away from a fool, 

because you will not receive knowledge from his lips. 

8 The wisdom of a sensible person guides his way of life, 

but the stupidity of fools misleads them. 

9 Stubborn fools make fun of guilt, 

but there is forgiveness among decent people. 

10 The heart knows its own bitterness, 

and no stranger can share its joy. 

11 The houses of wicked people will be destroyed, 

but the tents of decent people will continue to expand. 

12 There is a way that seems right to a person, 

but eventually it ends in death. 

13 Even while laughing a heart can ache, 

and joy can end in grief. 

14 A heart that turns ⸤from God⸥ becomes bored with its own ways, 

but a good person is satisfied with God’s ways. 

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. 

7 Stay away from a foolish man;

you will gain no knowledge from his speech.

8 The sensible man’s wisdom is to consider his way,

but the stupidity of fools deceives them.

9 Fools mock at making restitution,

but there is goodwill among the upright.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,

and no outsider shares in its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

but the tent of the upright will stand.

12 There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death.

13 Even in laughter a heart may be sad,

and joy may end in grief.

14 The disloyal one will get what his conduct deserves,

and a good man, what his deeds deserve.

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.

7 Leave the presence of a fool,

for there you do not find words of knowledge.

8 It is the wisdom of the clever to understand where they go,

but the folly of fools misleads.

9 Fools mock at the guilt offering,

but the upright enjoy God’s favor.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,

and no stranger shares its joy.

11 The house of the wicked is destroyed,

but the tent of the upright flourishes.

12 There is a way that seems right to a person,

but its end is the way to death.

13 Even in laughter the heart is sad,

and the end of joy is grief.

14 The perverse get what their ways deserve,

and the good, what their deeds deserve.

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.

7 Leave the presence of a foolish man,

for you will not come to know words of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the clever is understanding his ways,

but the folly of fools is deceit.

9 Fools mock the guilt offering,

but among the upright, it is favorable.

10 The heart knows the bitterness of its soul,

but in its joy, it will not share itself with a stranger.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

but the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 There is a way that seems upright to a man,

but its end is the way of death.

13 Even in laughter, a heart may be sad,

and the end of joy may be grief.

14 From his ways, the perverse of heart will be satisfied,

and from his own, so shall a good man.

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.

7 Stay away from a foolish man.

You won’t find knowledge in what he says.

8 People are wise and understanding when they think about the way they live.

But people are foolish when their foolish ways trick them.

9 Foolish people laugh at making things right when they sin.

But honest people try to do the right thing.

10 Each heart knows its own sadness.

And no one else can share its joy.

11 The houses of sinners will be destroyed.

But the tents of honest people will stand firm.

12 There is a way that may seem right to a man.

But in the end it leads to death.

13 Even when you laugh, your heart can be hurting.

And your joy can end in sadness.

14 Those who aren’t faithful will be paid back

for what they’ve done.

And good men will receive rewards

for how they’ve lived.

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.

7 Leave the presence of a fool,

Or you will not discern words of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,

But the foolishness of fools is deceit.

9 Fools mock at sin,

But among the upright there is good will.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,

And a stranger does not 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 which seems right to a man,

But its end is the way of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,

And the end of joy may be grief.

14 The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways,

But a good man will be satisfied with his.

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.