ReverendCareful discernment

Proverbs 14 — Discernment in households and public life — Hebrew and Greek compared

Saints Translation — Proverbs 1–31 [V1]

Same 2 Similar 6 Different 17 Divergent 4 Disparate 6

Disparate in this chapter: H 14:7, H 14:10, H 14:13, H 14:30, H 14:32, H 14:33

Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.

Proverbs 14 — Discernment in households and public life

14:1–14:9 — Wise building and discerning speech

Verse H 14:1 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:1

The wisest of women builds her house,

but Folly tears it down with her hands.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:1

Wise women built houses,

but the foolish woman tore them down with her hands.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H's plural opening with a singular building verb is read as a representative or foremost wise woman; 'women's wisdom builds' is another possible construal. G explicitly has plural wise women and houses.

Verse H 14:2 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:2

One who walks in his uprightness fears YHWH,

but one crooked in his ways despises Him.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:2

One who walks uprightly fears the Lord,

but one who is crooked in his ways will be dishonored.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H's crooked person despises God; G's is dishonored, with no agent specified.

Verse H 14:3 Same

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:3

In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,

but the lips of the wise guard them.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:3

From the mouth of fools comes a staff of insolence,

but the lips of the wise guard them.

Comparison and reception

Same. Text: Both retain the rod or staff image for arrogant speech and the wise lips' protection.

Verse H 14:4 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:4

Where there are no cattle, the manger is clean,

but abundant produce comes through an ox's strength.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:4

Where there are no oxen, mangers are clean;

but where there is much produce, an ox's strength is evident.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: H attributes the harvest to the ox's strength; G treats the produce as evidence of it.

Verse H 14:5 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:5

A faithful witness does not lie,

but a false witness breathes lies.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:5

A faithful witness does not lie,

but an unjust witness kindles lies.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: G uses kindling rather than H's breathing and calls the false witness unjust.

Verse H 14:6 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:6

A scoffer seeks wisdom, and there is none,

but knowledge is easy for one who understands.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:6

You will seek wisdom among evil people and not find it,

but discernment is readily found among intelligent people.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H has a scoffer seeking; G the addressee seeking among evil people. The contrasting search locations remain distinct.

Verse H 14:7 Disparate

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:7

Go away from the presence of a foolish man,

for you will not know lips of knowledge there.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:7

Everything is against a foolish man,

but wise lips are weapons of discernment.

Comparison and reception

Disparate. Text: H commands leaving a fool whose lips yield no knowledge; G asserts opposition to the fool and equips wisdom with weapons.

Verse H 14:8 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:8

The wisdom of the shrewd is to understand his way,

but the folly of fools is deceit.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:8

The wisdom of resourceful people will recognize their ways,

but the senselessness of fools is in wandering.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H equates folly with deceit; G locates senselessness in error or wandering.

Verse H 14:9 Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:9

Guilt mocks fools,

but favor is among the upright.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:9

The houses of lawless people will owe purification,

but the houses of the righteous are acceptable.

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: H's singular verb permits guilt or a guilt-offering as subject mocking fools; 'fools mock guilt' is another proposed construction. G makes households liable for purification.

14:10–14:18 — The heart, joy, and prudence

Verse H 14:10 Disparate

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:10

The heart knows the bitterness of its own life,

and a stranger does not share in its joy.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:10

A man's heart is perceptive; his life is sorrowful,

but when he rejoices, he does not mingle with insolence.

Comparison and reception

Disparate. Text: H emphasizes private bitterness and joy inaccessible to an outsider. G couples perception with sorrow and joy kept apart from insolence.

Verse H 14:11 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:11

The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

but the tent of the upright will flourish.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:11

The houses of the impious will disappear,

but the tents of those who act rightly will stand.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: Both oppose ruined houses and enduring upright tents; H uses a flourishing image.

Verse H 14:12 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:12

There is a way that is upright before a man,

but its end is ways of death.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:12

There is a way that seems upright to people,

but its final outcome comes to the bottom of Hades.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: G explicitly says 'seems' and locates the end at the bottom of Hades, while H names death's ways.

Verse H 14:13 Disparate

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:13

Even in laughter the heart may ache,

and the end of joy is grief.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:13

In gladness sorrow does not mingle,

but in the end joy comes to mourning.

Comparison and reception

Disparate. Text: H allows sorrow within laughter; G explicitly denies sorrow's mingling with gladness in its first clause. Both close with joy ending in grief.

Verse H 14:14 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:14

One turned back in heart is filled from his own ways,

and a good man from what is his.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:14

One rash in heart will be filled from his own ways,

but a good man from his own thoughts.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H's second phrase me'alav is compressed and disputed; 'from what is his' is provisional, without silently adding deeds. G explicitly names the good man's thoughts.

Verse H 14:15 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:15

The simple person believes every word,

but the shrewd gives thought to his step.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:15

The innocent person believes every word,

but the resourceful comes to reconsideration.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H examines one's step; G comes to metanoia, here reconsideration or a change of mind, without a required later technical sense of repentance.

Verse H 14:16 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:16

The wise fears and turns from evil,

but the fool grows heated and is confident.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:16

The wise, becoming afraid, turned from evil,

but the fool, trusting himself, mixes with a lawless person.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: G specifies self-confidence and association with a lawless person, where H describes the fool's heated recklessness.

Verse H 14:17 Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:17

One short of temper acts foolishly,

and a man of schemes is hated.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:17

One quick to anger acts without counsel,

but an intelligent man endures many things.

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: H's second clause condemns a schemer; G commends an intelligent man's endurance.

Verse H 14:18 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:18

The simple inherit folly,

but the shrewd crown themselves with knowledge.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:18

Fools will receive a share of wickedness,

but the resourceful will lay hold of discernment.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H has folly and the crowning image; G wickedness and taking firm possession of discernment.

14:19–14:27 — Neighbors, generosity, and reverence

Verse H 14:19 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:19

Evil people bow before good people,

and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:19

Evil people will slip before good people,

and the impious will attend the doors of the righteous.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H describes bowing, G slipping and attending doors, implying dependence without inserting an explicit servant title.

Verse H 14:20 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:20

The poor person is hated even by his neighbor,

but those who love the rich are many.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:20

Friends will hate poor friends,

but the friends of the rich are many.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: G explicitly describes friends rejecting poor friends; H's neighbor is broader. The saying describes social partiality rather than commanding it.

Verse H 14:21 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:21

One who despises his neighbor sins,

but happy is one who shows favor to the afflicted.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:21

One who dishonors the needy sins,

but one who has mercy on the poor is blessed.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H names a neighbor in the first clause and afflicted people in the second; G names economic need in both.

Verse H 14:22 Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:22

Do not those who devise evil wander astray?

But steadfast kindness and faithfulness are for those who devise good.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:22

Those who wander devise evil things,

but good people devise mercy and truth.

Makers of evils do not know mercy and faithfulness,

but acts of mercy and faithfulness are with good makers.

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: G expands two H clauses into four and presents mercy and truth as what good people devise. H may imply these qualities characterize or come to the good planners.

Verse H 14:23 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:23

In all toil there is profit,

but talk of the lips leads only to lack.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:23

In everyone who takes care there is abundance,

but the pleasure-loving and unfeeling person will be in want.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H contrasts toil and mere speech; G a concerned person and one pleasant or pleasure-loving but insensible. Its latter characterization is contextual.

Verse H 14:24 Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:24

The crown of the wise is their wealth;

the folly of fools is folly.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:24

A resourceful person is the crown of the wise,

but the occupation of fools is evil.

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: H crowns the wise with wealth; G with a resourceful person. H repeats folly, G describes a bad occupation or way of spending time.

Verse H 14:25 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:25

A truthful witness rescues lives,

but one who breathes lies is deceit.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:25

A faithful witness will rescue a life from evils,

but a deceitful person kindles lies.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: G specifies rescue from evils and retains its kindling-lies wording; H's final nominal clause is compressed.

Verse H 14:26 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:26

In the fear of YHWH is strong confidence,

and for his children there will be refuge.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:26

In the fear of the Lord is hope of strength,

and he leaves a support for his children.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: The referent of 'his' may be the God-fearing person or the Lord; it is left uncapitalized because not unambiguous. G has leaving support rather than refuge simply existing.

Verse H 14:27 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:27

The fear of YHWH is a fountain of life,

for turning aside from the snares of death.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:27

The command of the Lord is a fountain of life,

and it causes one to turn from a trap of death.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H's fear of YHWH becomes G's command of the Lord; the life-giving and protective outcome agrees.

14:28–14:35 — Kingship, patience, and righteousness

Verse H 14:28 Same

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:28

In a multitude of people is a king's splendor,

but in the absence of a populace is a ruler's ruin.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:28

In a numerous nation is a king's glory,

but in the failing of a people is a ruler's ruin.

Comparison and reception

Same. Text: Both connect royal strength with a flourishing population.

Verse H 14:29 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:29

One slow to anger has great understanding,

but one short of spirit raises up folly.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:29

A patient man is great in understanding,

but one faint of spirit is exceedingly foolish.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H's short spirit evokes impatience; G's oligopsychos may denote faintheartedness or lack of endurance. G intensifies folly rather than raising it up.

Verse H 14:30 Disparate

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:30

A healing heart is life for the flesh,

but jealousy is rot in the bones.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:30

A gentle-tempered man is a physician of the heart,

but a perceptive heart is a moth to the bones.

Comparison and reception

Disparate. Text: H contrasts a healing or calm heart with jealousy. G explicitly calls a perceptive heart a bone-destroying moth, an unsettling wording retained rather than changed to H's jealousy.

Verse H 14:31 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:31

One who oppresses the poor insults his Maker,

but one who shows favor to the needy honors Him.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:31

One who extorts from the needy provokes the One who made him,

but one who honors Him has mercy on the poor.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: Both connect treatment of the needy with honor or offense toward their Maker; G's verb includes oppressive or false accusation.

Verse H 14:32 Disparate

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:32

The wicked is thrust down through his evil,

but the righteous takes refuge in his death.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:32

The impious will be thrust away in his wickedness,

but one trusting in his own piety is righteous.

Comparison and reception

Disparate. Text: H has righteous refuge at death; G defines the righteous through confidence in his own piety. Death is not written in G.

Verse H 14:33 Disparate

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:33

Wisdom rests in an understanding heart,

and in the midst of fools it is made known.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:33

Wisdom is in a man's good heart,

but in the heart of fools it is not discerned.

Comparison and reception

Disparate. Text: The displayed H second clause is affirmative; G explicitly negates wisdom's recognition among fools. No missing H negative is silently supplied.

Verse H 14:34 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:34

Righteousness exalts a nation,

but sin is a disgrace to peoples.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:34

Righteousness exalts a nation,

but sins diminish tribes.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: H chesed is read in its debated disgrace sense here, rather than its usual kindness sense; the syntax can be construed differently. G explicitly has sins reducing peoples.

Verse H 14:35 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 14:35

A king's favor is for a prudent servant,

but his wrath falls on one who brings shame.

Greek–English (G)

G 14:35

An intelligent attendant is acceptable to a king,

and by his own dexterity he removes dishonor.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H closes with the king's wrath toward a shameful servant; G with the intelligent attendant's skill removing dishonor.