Proverbs 14

Wise women build with golden bricks,
Their houses set in stone,
A foolish one with eggs for brains,
Will break it till it's gone

Whoever fears the Lord our God,
Walks upright in the street,
Those who hate Him curse aloud,
Don't shake hands when they meet

A foolish mouth spits venom,
Their pride's what makes them chafe,
The wise take care to think,
Their lips help keep them safe

When oxen are nowhere to find,
The manger is left free,
But their strength is big enough,
That harvest springs greatly

A witness who calls true,
Has no deceit to tip,
A witness who speaks false,
Pours lies from out their lips

The mocker seeking wisdom,
Finds none that they can learn,
Knowledge comes with ease,
To those who can discern

From fools stay clear and far,
If things you want to know,
The lips of fools are dry,
Their words are all shallow

The prudent think on ways,
With wisdom through and through,
Deception is how fools,
Make folly of what they do

Fools mock making right,
The sins that they commit,
But goodwill's always found,
Where upright leaders sit

Each heart knows the bitterness,
Which blocks its living flow,
And none can share the joy it feels,
For it is felt alone

The wicked house comes crashing,
It falls from creaking grounds,
Whilst right-roped tents of good men,
Will flourish all around

There's one way which seems right,
But reason can be wrong,
Death is where it leads to,
And nothing from it comes

It may be that you're laughing,
Yet still your heart will ache,
Rejoicing too may dwindle,
When grief its joy then takes

Those who work without faith,
Will get a balanced bounty,
And those who labour faithfully,
Will also have accounting

The simple have their own beliefs,
Convinced by any truth,
The prudent think before they act,
And step a careful route

Those who're wise are fearful,
They shun all dark and bad,
Foolish people venture,
Where angels fear to tread

Foolish people bluster,
At every slight they rise,
Those who spend days plotting,
Are hated and despised

The simple inherit follies,
Repeated over time,
The prudent bear wise crowns,
And knowledge is their sign

Evildoers bow where goodness waits,
They can't face it,
They fall to their knees at the gates,
Where the righteous sit

The poor are despised and looked down on,
Even their neighbours detest,
Whilst hatred brings curses and evil,
Those kind to the needy are blessed

Those making plots for evil,
Go wild and lose themselves,
But those who plan for goodness,
Find faithfulness and health

Working hard in all things,
Always brings reward,
Whilst rattling on forever,
Will only make you poor

The wealthy of the wisest,
Is found on gold-crowned heads,
Foolish people trip up,
Their mistakes leave them dead

A witness who is true,
Has a life-saving trait,
One who is false,
Deceives in all debates

Whoever fears the Lord,
Can stand in fortressed walls,
There all their children stay,
As God watches over all

Fearing God's a fountain,
The source of all our breath,
Keeping us from pitfalls,
Which lead to snares of death

Many loyal people,
Glorify a king,
But without any subjects,
Princes fall to ruin

Whoever waits in patience,
Understands the rules,
Those who moan, feet tapping,
Display themselves as fools

A heart at peace makes joyful,
The body where it beats,
But envy of the wealthy,
Makes bones rot to the feet

Putting down the lowly,
Denies the Maker too,
Be kind to those impoverished,
To honour who made you

At a time of chaos,
The wicked sink and choke,
But even death can't threaten,
The good and godly folk

Wisdom lies in the seeing heart,
It views what makes it beat,
Even fools get Wisdom's call,
She finds them on their feet

Goodness makes the nations rise,
Exalted for what's right,
But sin is a disease that spreads,
Infecting all in sight

A king is pleased when those who serve,
Show wisdom in their duty,
But a servant who brings shame,
Makes him rouse to fury.

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