Proverbs 14
1 Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs [hers] down with her hands.
Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears 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.
He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.
3 Out of the mouth of fools [comes] a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise preserve them.
The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where no oxen are, the cribs are clean; but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.
An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.
6 You shall seek wisdom with bad men, and shall not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.
A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
7 All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.
8 The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
9 The houses of transgressors will need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright.
10 [If] a man's mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no fellowship with pride.
The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares in its joy.
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 a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
13 Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in 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 receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways.
15 The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes himself to afterthought.
The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches 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 fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
17 A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man 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 are crowned with knowledge.
19 Evil men shall fall before the good; and the ungodly shall attend at the gates of the righteous.
The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 Friends will hate poor friends; but the friends of the rich are many.
The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich.
21 He that dishonours the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
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.
Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness.
23 With every one [who is] careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in lack.
There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of fools is evil.
The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly.
25 A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful [man] kindles falsehoods.
A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.
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 a fountain of life, turning a man from 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.
A large population is a king’s splendor, but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.
29 A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish.
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
30 A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones.
A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
31 He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honours him has pity upon the poor.
Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
32 The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just.
The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.
33 There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned.
Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; even among fools she is known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behaviour he removes disgrace.
A king delights in a wise servant, but his anger falls on the shameful.
