< Proverbs 14 >
1 Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish woman plucks it down with her own hands.
Every wise woman builds her house, but the stupid woman tears it down with her own hands.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears Jehovah, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
Those who live right respect the Lord, but those who live dishonestly despise him.
3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
What stupid people say punishes their pride, but what wise people say will protect them.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but by the strength of the ox is much increase.
Without oxen, the manger is empty, but a good harvest comes through the ox's strength.
5 A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness utters lies.
A trustworthy witness doesn't lie, but a false witness is deceptive.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, and finds it not, but knowledge is easy to him who has understanding.
It's pointless for a scoffer to look for wisdom, but knowledge comes easily to someone who understands.
7 Go into the presence of a foolish man, and thou shall not perceive the lips of knowledge.
Stay away from stupid people—you won't learn anything from them.
8 The wisdom of a prudent man is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
Sensible people use their wisdom to decide where they're going, but the foolishness of stupid people is treacherous.
9 Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is good will.
Stupid people laugh at sin, but good people want forgiveness.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not intermeddle with its joy.
The individual's mind alone knows its sadnesses, and no one else can share its happiness.
11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown, but the tent of the upright shall flourish.
The house of wicked people will be destroyed, but the tent of good people will prosper.
12 There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
There's a way that seems to be right, but in the end it's the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of mirth is heaviness.
Even when you're laughing you can be feeling sad—joy can end in grief.
14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways, and a good man from his own fruits.
Disloyal people are repaid for what they do, and good people are rewarded.
15 A simple man believes every word, but the prudent man looks well to his going.
Stupid people believe whatever they're told, but sensible people think about what they're doing.
16 A wise man fears, and departs from evil, but the fool bears himself insolently, and is confident.
Wise people are careful and avoid evil, but stupid people are confidently reckless.
17 He who is soon angry will deal foolishly. And a man of wicked devices is hated.
Quick-tempered people act foolishly, while people who make evil plans are hated.
18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
The inheritance of stupid people is stupidity, but sensible people are rewarded with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
Evil people bow down before good people, and the wicked bow down at the doors of those who do right.
20 The poor man is regarded inferior even by his own neighbor, but the rich man has many friends.
The poor are hated even by their neighbors, while the rich have many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has pity on the poor, happy is he.
People who look down on their neighbors are sinners, but those who are kind to the poor are blessed.
22 Do they not err who devise evil? But mercy and truth are to those who devise good.
Aren't people who plan to do evil wrong? But those who plan to do good have trustworthy love and faithfulness.
23 In all labor there is profit, but the talk of the lips tends only to poverty.
There's profit in hard work, but chatting just leads to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches. The foolishness of fools is folly.
The wise are rewarded with wealth, but stupid people are rewarded with stupidity.
25 A true witness delivers souls, but he who utters lies causes deceit.
A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is treacherous.
26 In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence, and his sons shall have a place of refuge.
People who honor the Lord are completely safe; he will protect their children.
27 The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Respecting the Lord is like a fountain of life, so you can avoid the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the king's glory, but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
The glory of a king is the number of his subjects, for a ruler is nothing without them.
29 He who is slow to anger is of great understanding, but he who is hasty of spirit exalts folly.
If you're slow to get angry, you're very wise; but if you have a short fuse you glorify stupidity.
30 A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh, but envy is the rottenness of the bones.
A peaceful mind makes your body healthy, but jealousy makes your bones rot.
31 He who oppresses a poor man reproaches his maker, but he who has mercy on a needy man honors him.
Anyone who oppresses the poor insults their Maker, but anyone who is kind to the needy honors him.
32 An evil man is thrust down in his evil-doing, but a righteous man has hope in his death.
Wicked people are brought down by their own evil actions, but those who live right are confident even in death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, but what is in the inward part of fools is made known.
Wisdom is at home in a mind that understands, but it's not found among stupid people.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
Doing right makes a nation successful, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king's favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath will be to him who causes shame.
A servant who acts wisely is appreciated by the king, but he gets angry with a servant who acts disgracefully.