Proverbs 14
1 Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs [hers] down with her hands.
Every wise woman builds her house, but the stupid woman 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.
Those who live right respect the Lord, but those who live dishonestly despise him.
3 Out of the mouth of fools [comes] a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise preserve them.
What stupid people say punishes their pride, but what wise people say will protect them.
4 Where no oxen are, the cribs are clean; but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.
Without oxen, the manger is empty, but a good harvest comes through the ox's strength.
5 A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.
A trustworthy witness doesn't lie, but a false witness is deceptive.
6 You shall seek wisdom with bad men, and shall not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.
It's pointless for a scoffer to look for wisdom, but knowledge comes easily to someone who understands.
7 All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
Stay away from stupid people—you won't learn anything from them.
8 The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.
Sensible people use their wisdom to decide where they're going, but the foolishness of stupid people is treacherous.
9 The houses of transgressors will need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
Stupid people laugh at sin, but good people want forgiveness.
10 [If] a man's mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no fellowship with pride.
The individual's mind alone knows its sadnesses, and no one else can share its happiness.
11 The houses of ungodly men shall be utterly destroyed; but the tabernacles of them that walk uprightly shall stand.
The house of wicked people will be destroyed, but the tent of good people will prosper.
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's a way that seems to be right, but in the end it's the way of death.
13 Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
Even when you're laughing you can be feeling sad—joy can end in grief.
14 A stout-hearted [man] shall be filled with his own ways; and a good man with his own thoughts.
Disloyal people are repaid for what they do, and good people are rewarded.
15 The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes himself to afterthought.
Stupid people believe whatever they're told, but sensible people think about what they're doing.
16 A wise man fears, and departs from evil; but the fool trusts in himself, and joins himself with the transgressor.
Wise people are careful and avoid evil, but stupid people are confidently reckless.
17 A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
Quick-tempered people act foolishly, while people who make evil plans are hated.
18 Fools shall have mischief for their portion; but the prudent shall take fast hold of understanding.
The inheritance of stupid people is stupidity, but sensible people are rewarded with knowledge.
19 Evil men shall fall before the good; and the ungodly shall attend at the gates of the righteous.
Evil people bow down before good people, and the wicked bow down at the doors of those who do right.
20 Friends will hate poor friends; but the friends of the rich are many.
The poor are hated even by their neighbors, while the rich have many friends.
21 He that dishonours the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
People who look down on their neighbors are sinners, but those who are kind to the poor are blessed.
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.
Aren't people who plan to do evil wrong? But those who plan to do good have trustworthy love and faithfulness.
23 With every one [who is] careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in lack.
There's profit in hard work, but chatting just leads to poverty.
24 A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of fools is evil.
The wise are rewarded with wealth, but stupid people are rewarded with stupidity.
25 A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful [man] kindles falsehoods.
A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is treacherous.
26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
People who honor the Lord are completely safe; he will protect their children.
27 The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes [men] to turn aside from the snare of death.
Respecting the Lord is like a fountain of life, so you can 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.
The glory of a king is the number of his subjects, for a ruler is nothing without them.
29 A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish.
If you're slow to get angry, you're very wise; but if you have a short fuse you glorify stupidity.
30 A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones.
A peaceful mind makes your body healthy, but jealousy makes your bones rot.
31 He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honours him has pity upon the poor.
Anyone who oppresses the poor insults their Maker, but anyone who 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.
Wicked people are brought down by their own evil actions, but those who live right are confident 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 is at home in a mind that understands, but it's not found among stupid people.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
Doing right makes a nation successful, 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 servant who acts wisely is appreciated by the king, but he gets angry with a servant who acts disgracefully.
