Proverbs 14
1 Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs [hers] down with her hands.
Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
2 He that walks uprightly fears the Lord; but he that is perverse in his ways shall be dishonoured.
He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Yhwh: but he that is perverse in his ways 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 rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall 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, the crib is clean: but much increase is by 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 will utter lies.
6 You shall seek wisdom with bad men, and shall not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
7 All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him 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.
Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
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 his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his 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 shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall 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 which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
13 Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
14 A stout-hearted [man] shall be filled with his own ways; and a good man with his own thoughts.
The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
15 The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes himself to afterthought.
The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
16 A wise man fears, and departs from evil; but the fool trusts in himself, and joins himself with the transgressor.
A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
17 A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: 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 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 is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
21 He that dishonours the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
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 they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
23 With every one [who is] careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in lack.
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
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 foolishness of fools is folly.
25 A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful [man] kindles falsehoods.
A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
In the fear of Yhwh is strong 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 Yhwh is a fountain of life, to depart 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.
In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction 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 wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth 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 flesh: but envy 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 reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
32 The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just.
The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
33 There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned.
Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behaviour he removes disgrace.
The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
