Proverbs

Chapter 14

The Wise Woman

Proverbs 14 contrasts wise building with foolish self-destruction, prudent discernment with naive credulity, and reverent stability with the turmoil generated by pride, deceit, and short-sighted desire. The chapter moves from the household to the nation, showing that righteousness, patience, truthful witness, compassion for the poor, and the fear of the LORD all sustain life at every level.

As the fourteenth chapter of Proverbs, this passage broadens the Solomonic contrasts into an even more social and political register. It teaches that wisdom is not only a personal possession but a force that builds homes, steadies emotions, protects communities, exalts nations, and creates refuge under God's moral order.

1 section·259 words·~1 min read

Begin reading Zoom into first section

Reader

Proverbs 14

A continuous BSB reading flow. Turn on the guide when you want authored orientation; leave it off when you simply want the text.

vv. 1-35

The Wise Woman

Open section

E¹very wise woman builds her house, ²He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, ³The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, ⁴Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, ⁵An honest witness does not deceive, ⁶A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, ⁷Stay away from a foolish man; ⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,

⁹Fools mock the making of amends, ¹⁰The heart knows its own bitterness, ¹¹The house of the wicked will be destroyed, ¹²There is a way that seems right to a man, ¹³Even in laughter the heart may ache, ¹⁴The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, ¹⁵The simple man believes every word, ¹⁶A wise man fears and turns from evil,

¹⁷A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, ¹⁸The simple inherit folly, ¹⁹The evil bow before the good, ²⁰The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, ²¹He who despises his neighbor sins, ²²Do not those who contrive evil go astray? ²³There is profit in all labor, ²⁴The crown of the wise is their wealth,

²⁵A truthful witness saves lives, ²⁶He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, ²⁷The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, ²⁸A large population is a king’s splendor, ²⁹A patient man has great understanding, ³⁰A tranquil heart is life to the body, ³¹Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, ³²The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, ³³Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; ³⁴Righteousness exalts a nation, ³⁵A king delights in a wise servant,

Section map

Open the closer view when you want it.

Each section keeps the passage focused, adds summaries and cross references, and gives verse-level links.

01vv. 1-35The Wise WomanThe chapter gathers many short sayings about household strength, upright fear of the LORD, truthful witness, discernment, emotional self-command, compassion for the poor, civic flourishing, and national righteousness. Together they show that wisdom quietly builds while folly loudly unravels, and that the difference is seen in how one speaks, judges, works, reacts, and regards both God and neighbor.