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 foolish one 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.
He who walks in his uprightness fears YHWH, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
The fool's talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect 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 crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness utters lies.
A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, and finds it not, but knowledge is easy to him who has understanding.
A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn't find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
7 Go into the presence of a foolish man, and thou shall not perceive the lips of knowledge.
Stay away from a foolish man, for you won't find knowledge on his lips.
8 The wisdom of a prudent man is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is good will.
Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not intermeddle with its joy.
The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.
11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown, but the tent of the upright shall flourish.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
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 right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of mirth is heaviness.
Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.
14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways, and a good man from his own fruits.
The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
15 A simple man believes every word, but the prudent man looks well to his going.
A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
16 A wise man fears, and departs from evil, but the fool bears himself insolently, and is confident.
A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but the fool is arrogant and reckless.
17 He who is soon angry will deal foolishly. And a man of wicked devices is hated.
He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked 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.
The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has pity on the poor, happy is he.
He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
22 Do they not err who devise evil? But mercy and truth are to those who devise good.
Do they not go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
23 In all labor there is profit, but the talk of the lips tends only to poverty.
In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches. The foolishness of fools is folly.
The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.
25 A true witness delivers souls, but he who utters lies causes deceit.
A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.
26 In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence, and his sons shall have a place of refuge.
In the fear of YHWH is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.
27 The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
The fear of YHWH is a fountain of life, turning people from 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.
In the multitude of people is the king's glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 He who is slow to anger is of great understanding, but he who is hasty of spirit exalts folly.
He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
30 A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh, but envy is the rottenness of the bones.
The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.
31 He who oppresses a poor man reproaches his maker, but he who has mercy on a needy man honors him.
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he 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.
The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but the righteous has a refuge in his 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 rests in the heart of one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
Righteousness exalts a nation, 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.
The king's favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
