Proverbs 14
1 Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs [hers] down with her hands.
The wise among women buildeth her house; but the foolish pulleth it down with her own hands.
2 He that walks uprightly fears the Lord; but he that is perverse in his ways shall be dishonoured.
In his uprightness walketh he that feareth the Lord; but perverse in his ways is he that despiseth him.
3 Out of the mouth of fools [comes] a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise preserve them.
In the mouth of the foolish is a stick [for his] pride; but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, the cribs are clean; but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.
Where no oxen are, is the crib clean; but the abundance of harvests is [only] through the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.
A faithful witness will not lie; but a false witness constantly uttereth lies.
6 Thou shalt seek wisdom with bad men, and shalt not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none; but knowledge is easy to the man of understanding.
7 All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
Go far away from a foolish man, else thou wilt [never] know the lips of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 The houses of transgressors will need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
The fool maketh a mockery of guilt; but among the upright there is good will.
10 [If] a man's mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no fellowship with pride.
The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and with its joy can no stranger intermeddle.
11 The houses of ungodly men shall be utterly destroyed; but the tabernacles of them that walk uprightly shall stand.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed: but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way which seems to be right with men, but the ends of it reach to the depths of hell. (questioned)
There is many a way which seemeth even before a man; but its end are ways unto death.
13 Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
Even in laughter the heart feeleth pain; and at its end joy is sorrow.
14 A stout-hearted [man] shall be filled with his own ways; and a good man with his own thoughts.
The backslider in heart will have enough of his own ways; and from him [departeth] the good men.
15 The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes himself to after-thought.
The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man understandeth his steps.
16 A wise man fears, and departs from evil; but the fool trusts in himself, and joins himself with the transgressor.
A wise man is fearful, and departeth from evil; but the fool exciteth himself, and is confident.
17 A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
He that is soon angry committeth folly; and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 Fools shall have mischief for their portion; but the prudent shall take fast hold of understanding.
The simple inherit folly; but the prudent crown themselves with knowledge.
19 Evil men shall fall before the good; and the ungodly shall attend at the gates of the righteous.
The bad sink down before the good; and the wicked are at the gates of the righteous.
20 Friends will hate poor friends; but the friends of the rich are many.
Even to his own neighbor is the poor man hateful; but the friends of the rich are many.
21 He that dishonours the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
He that despiseth his neighbor is a sinner; but he that is gracious to the poor—happiness attend him!
22 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.
Behold, those who contrive evil are in error; but kindness and truth attend on those who contrive what is good.
23 With every one [who is] careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in want.
In all painful labor there is profit; but mere words of the lips [lead] only to want.
24 A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of fools is evil.
The crown of the wise is their riches; but the folly of fools is [only] folly.
25 A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful [man] kindles falsehoods.
A deliverer of souls is the true witness; but a witness of deceit uttereth lies.
26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
In the fear of the Lord is the strong confidence [of man], and unto his children will it be a place of shelter.
27 The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes [men] to turn aside from the snare of death.
The fear of the Lord is the source of life, [teaching] to avoid the snares of death.
28 In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince.
In the multitude of people is the king's glory; but in the want of a population is the downfall of the prince.
29 A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish.
He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit holdeth up [to view] his folly.
30 A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones.
A sound heart is the life of the body; but jealousy is the rottenness of the bones.
31 He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honours him has pity upon the poor.
He that oppresseth the poor blasphemeth his Maker; but he that is gracious to the needy honoreth him.
32 The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just.
Through his own evil is the wicked thrust down; but even in his death doth the righteous have confidence.
33 There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned.
In the heart of the man of understanding resteth wisdom: but [the little which is] in the bosom of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
Righteousness exalteth a people; but the disgrace of nations is sin.
35 An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behaviour he removes disgrace.
The king's favor is bestowed on an intelligent servant; but his wrath is against him that deserveth shame.
