Proverbs 14
1 Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish woman plucks it down with her own hands.
Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs [hers] down with her hands.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears Jehovah, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
He that walks uprightly fears the Lord; but he that is perverse in his ways shall be dishonored.
3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
Out of the mouth of fools [comes] a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but by the strength of the ox is much increase.
Where no oxen are, the cribs are clean; but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.
5 A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness utters lies.
A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, and finds it not, but knowledge is easy to him who has understanding.
You shall seek wisdom with bad men, and shall not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.
7 Go into the presence of a foolish man, and thou shall not perceive the lips of knowledge.
All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
8 The wisdom of a prudent man is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.
9 Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is good will.
The houses of transgressors will need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not intermeddle with its joy.
[If] a man's mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no fellowship with pride.
11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown, but the tent of the upright shall flourish.
The houses of ungodly men shall be utterly destroyed; but the tabernacles of them that walk uprightly shall stand.
12 There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
There is a way which seems to be right with men, but the ends of it reach to the depths of hell. (questioned)
13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of mirth is heaviness.
Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways, and a good man from his own fruits.
A stout-hearted [man] shall be filled with his own ways; and a good man with his own thoughts.
15 A simple man believes every word, but the prudent man looks well to his going.
The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes himself to afterthought.
16 A wise man fears, and departs from evil, but the fool bears himself insolently, and is confident.
A wise man fears, and departs from evil; but the fool trusts in himself, and joins himself with the transgressor.
17 He who is soon angry will deal foolishly. And a man of wicked devices is hated.
A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
Fools shall have mischief for their portion; but the prudent shall take fast hold of understanding.
19 The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
Evil men shall fall before the good; and the ungodly shall attend at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor man is regarded inferior even by his own neighbor, but the rich man has many friends.
Friends will hate poor friends; but the friends of the rich are many.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has pity on the poor, happy is he.
He that dishonors the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
22 Do they not err who devise evil? But mercy and truth are to those who devise good.
They that go astray devise evils: but the good devise mercy and truth. The framers of evil do not understand mercy and truth: but compassion and faithfulness are with the framers of good.
23 In all labor there is profit, but the talk of the lips tends only to poverty.
With every one [who is] careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in lack.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches. The foolishness of fools is folly.
A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of fools is evil.
25 A true witness delivers souls, but he who utters lies causes deceit.
A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful [man] kindles falsehoods.
26 In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence, and his sons shall have a place of refuge.
In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
27 The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes [men] to turn aside from the snare 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.
In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince.
29 He who is slow to anger is of great understanding, but he who is hasty of spirit exalts folly.
A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish.
30 A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh, but envy is the rottenness of the bones.
A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones.
31 He who oppresses a poor man reproaches his maker, but he who has mercy on a needy man honors him.
He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honors him has pity upon the poor.
32 An evil man is thrust down in his evil-doing, but a righteous man has hope in his death.
The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, but what is in the inward part of fools is made known.
There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
35 The king's favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath will be to him who causes shame.
An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behavior he removes disgrace.
