Proverbs 14
1 Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
The wise woman builds her house, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.
2 He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.
The one who walks uprightly fears Yahweh, but the one who is dishonest in his ways despises him.
3 The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
From the mouth of a fool comes an offshoot of his pride, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.
Where there are no cattle the feeding trough is clean, but an abundant crop can come by the strength of an ox.
5 An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.
A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.
6 A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
A mocker seeks wisdom and there is none, but knowledge comes easy to the one who is discerning.
7 Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.
Walk away from a foolish person, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
The wisdom of the prudent person is to understand his own way, but the folly of fools is deception.
9 Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright.
Fools mock when the guilt offering is sacrificed, but among the upright favor is shared.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares in its joy.
The heart knows its own bitterness and no stranger shares its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
The house of wicked people will be destroyed, but the tent of upright people will flourish.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end only leads to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow.
A heart can laugh but still be in pain and joy may end up being grief.
14 The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways.
The one who is not faithful will get what his ways deserve, but a good person will get what is his.
15 The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.
The one who is naive believes everything, but the prudent man thinks about his steps.
16 A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
A wise man fears and turns away from evil, but the fool confidently dismisses a warning.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man is hated.
One who is quick to become angry does foolish things, and a person who makes evil schemes is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
The naive inherit foolishness, but prudent people are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
Evil people will bow down before those who are good and those who are wicked will bow down at the gates of the righteous person.
20 The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich.
The poor person is hated even by his own companions, but the rich people have many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
The one who shows contempt for his neighbor is sinning, but the one who shows favor to the poor is blessed.
22 Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness.
Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan to do good will receive covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness.
23 There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
With all hard work comes a profit, but when there is only talk, it leads to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly.
The crown of wise people is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings them only more folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful.
A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness breathes out lies.
26 He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.
When someone fears Yahweh, he also has much confidence in him; these things will be like a strong place of protection for this man's children.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life, so that a person may turn away from the snares of death.
28 A large population is a king’s splendor, but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.
The glory of a king is found in the great number of his people, but without people the prince is ruined.
29 A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
A patient person has great understanding, but the quick-tempered person exalts folly.
30 A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
A tranquil heart is life for the body, but envy rots the bones.
31 Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
The one who oppresses the poor curses his Maker, but the one who shows favor to the needy honors him.
32 The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.
The wicked person is brought down by his evil actions, but the righteous person has a refuge even in death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; even among fools she is known.
Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning, but even among fools she lets herself be known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
Doing what is right exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 A king delights in a wise servant, but his anger falls on the shameful.
The favor of the king is with the servant who acts prudently, but his anger is for the one who acts shamefully.
