Veritable King James Version
1A wise child heeds a father’s instruction, but a scoffer ignores rebuke.
2From the fruit of their mouth, people enjoy good things, but the treacherous crave violence.
3Those who guard their speech preserve their life; those who open wide their lips face ruin.
4The sluggard craves yet gains nothing, but the diligent find abundance.
5The righteous hate falsehood, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.
6Righteousness guards the upright in their way, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7Some pretend to be rich yet have nothing; others act poor but have great wealth.
8A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor hear no threat.
9The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10Pride breeds only strife, but wisdom rests with those who heed counsel.
11Wealth gained by deceit dwindles, but gathered by labor grows.
12Hope deferred sickens the heart, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
13Whoever despises the word brings destruction, but those who fear the command are rewarded.
14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning people from the snares of death.
15Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous leads to ruin.
16Every prudent person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays folly.
17A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18Poverty and shame come to those who ignore discipline, but those who heed correction are honored.
19A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools loathe turning from evil.
20Walk with the wise and become wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.
21Trouble pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good.
22The good leave an inheritance to their children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
23The poor’s field may yield much food, but injustice sweeps it away.
24Those who spare the rod hate their children, but those who love them are diligent to discipline.
25The righteous eat to their satisfaction, but the wicked go hungry. Proverbs 14 The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 14 – VKJV
Translation notes
In verse 1, ben (“son”) is translated as “child” for inclusivity, applicable to any learner; musar (“instruction”) implies disciplinary teaching, and letz (“scoffer”) denotes one who mocks wisdom. Verse 2’s “fruit of their mouth” (peri peh) metaphorically links speech to outcomes; “treacherous” (bogedim) suggests betrayal, with “violence” (chamas) reflecting harmful intent; cross-reference Proverbs 10:11. Verse 3’s “guard their speech” (notzer piv) emphasizes restraint, while “open wide their lips” (poteh s’fatav) implies reckless talk; theologically, speech reflects the heart (cf. Matthew 12:34). Verse 4’s “sluggard” (atzal) contrasts with “diligent” (charutz), highlighting work ethic; “abundance” translates dashen (lit. “fatness”), symbolizing prosperity. Verse 5’s “falsehood” (sheqer) and “disgrace” (ba’ash) underscore moral contrasts; cross-reference Psalm 119:163. No significant Dead Sea Scrolls variants (e.g., 4Q102) affect this section, affirming Masoretic Text reliability.
Verse 6’s “guards” (notzeret) reflects righteousness as a protective force; “overthrows” (salaf) suggests ruin for sinners; theologically, this mirrors divine justice (cf. Psalm 34:21). Verse 7’s “pretend” (mit’ra’eh) implies deceptive behavior; the contrast highlights integrity over appearances. Verse 8’s “ransom” (kofer) suggests wealth as a shield, while “hear no threat” implies poverty’s insulation from certain dangers; cross-reference Proverbs 10:15. Verse 9’s “light” (or) and “lamp” (ner) are metaphors for life and prosperity, with “snuffed out” (da’ak) indicating demise; cross-reference Job 21:17. Verse 10’s “pride” (zadon) contrasts with “heed counsel” (luach), emphasizing humility’s link to wisdom; theologically, pride opposes divine order (cf. James 4:6). No notable Dead Sea Scrolls variants noted.
Verse 11’s “deceit” (hevel, lit. “vapor”) implies fleeting gains, contrasted with “labor” (yad, lit. “hand”); cross-reference Proverbs 10:2. Verse 12’s “sickens the heart” (macaleh lev) and “tree of life” (etz chayyim) use vivid imagery; theologically, fulfilled hope reflects divine blessing (cf. Proverbs 3:18). Verse 13’s “word” (davar) and “command” (mitzvah) denote divine instruction; “fear” (yare) implies reverence; cross-reference Deuteronomy 8:6. Verse 14’s “fountain of life” (maqor chayyim) and “snares of death” (moqesh mavet) emphasize wisdom’s life-giving role; theologically, this echoes God’s law as life (cf. Psalm 19:7). Verse 15’s “good sense” (sekel tov) contrasts with “treacherous” (bogedim); “ruin” (ethan) suggests enduring failure. No significant Dead Sea Scrolls variants affect this section.
Verse 16’s “prudent” (arum) implies cautious wisdom, while “fool” (kesil) denotes willful ignorance; “displays” (paraś) suggests open folly. Verse 17’s “wicked messenger” (mal’ak ra) contrasts with “faithful envoy” (tzir emunim), with “healing” (marpe) echoing Proverbs 3:8. Verse 18’s “discipline” (musar) and “correction” (tokhechat) emphasize teachability; “honored” (kavod) reflects social esteem. Verse 19’s “sweet to the soul” (arevah l’nefesh) parallels verse 12; “loathe” (toa’avah) underscores fools’ resistance to repentance; theologically, this reflects rebellion against God’s call (cf. Isaiah 55:7). Verse 20’s “walk with” (halak im) implies close association; “suffers harm” (yeroa) warns of moral contagion; cross-reference Proverbs 1:10–15. No notable Dead Sea Scrolls variants noted.
Verse 21’s “pursues” (radaph) suggests inescapable consequences; “good” (tov) implies divine blessing; cross-reference Psalm 23:6. Verse 22’s “children’s children” reflects generational blessing; “stored up” (tzaphan) implies divine redistribution; theologically, this echoes covenantal promises (cf. Deuteronomy 28:12). Verse 23’s “injustice” (lo mishpat) denotes systemic wrong; “sweeps away” (saphah) suggests loss. Verse 24’s “rod” (shevet) symbolizes discipline, not abuse; “diligent” (shachar) implies timely correction; cross-reference Proverbs 22:15; theologically, discipline reflects divine love (cf. Hebrews 12:6). Verse 25’s “satisfaction” (sova) contrasts with “go hungry” (chaser), emphasizing divine provision; cross-reference Psalm 37:25. No significant Dead Sea Scrolls variants (e.g., 4Q102) affect this section.
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