Proverbs 14
1 Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs [hers] down with her hands.
Wise women [PRS] hold their families together [by the wise things that they do], but foolish women ruin their families by the foolish things that they do.
2 He that walks uprightly fears the Lord; but he that is perverse in his ways shall be dishonoured.
By [continually] behaving/acting righteously, [people show that they] greatly revere Yahweh; those who (walk on crooked paths/always deceive others) [show that they] despise him.
3 Out of the mouth of fools [comes] a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise preserve them.
Foolish people will be punished [MTY] for what they say, but wise [people] will be protected by what they say [MTY].
4 Where no oxen are, the cribs are clean; but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.
If [a man has] no oxen [to plow his field], he does not [need to put] grain [in their feedbox], but if [he has] oxen, they will enable [him to produce] an abundant crop.
5 A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.
Witnesses who are reliable [always] say what (is true/really happened), but witnesses who are not reliable constantly tell lies [about what happened].
6 You shall seek wisdom with bad men, and shall not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.
Those who make fun [of being wise] will never become wise, but those who understand [what is right] learn things easily.
7 All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
Stay away from foolish people, because they will not be able to teach you anything [useful].
8 The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.
Those who have good sense are wise, so they know what they should do [and what they should not do]; foolish people do not know what is right to do, but because they think that they do, they are deceiving themselves.
9 The houses of transgressors will need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
Foolish people make fun of their committing sins; but God is pleased with those who do what is right.
10 [If] a man's mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no fellowship with pride.
If you are very sad or if you are joyful, only you know what you are experiencing; no one else [can] know what you are feeling.
11 The houses of ungodly men shall be utterly destroyed; but the tabernacles of them that walk uprightly shall stand.
Houses built by wicked [people] will be destroyed, but houses built by good/righteous [people] will last for a long time.
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 are some kinds of behavior [MET] that [some] people [falsely] think are right, but (walking on those roads/continually doing those things) causes [those people] to die.
13 Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
[Sometimes] when people laugh, they are [really] sad, and when they stop laughing, they are still sad.
14 A stout-hearted [man] shall be filled with his own ways; and a good man with his own thoughts.
Those who stubbornly continue to do what is wrong will get what they deserve, and those who continually do what is good will [also] get what they deserve.
15 The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes himself to afterthought.
Foolish people believe everything [that people tell them]; those who have good sense think carefully about what will be the result of their actions.
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 [doing things that will give them] trouble; foolish people are careless and act (too quickly/without thinking).
17 A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
Those who quickly become angry [IDM] do foolish things; [people] hate those who plan to do wicked things (OR, those who have good sense remain calm/patient).
18 Fools shall have mischief for their portion; but the prudent shall take fast hold of understanding.
Foolish people get what they deserve for doing foolish things; those with good sense are rewarded [MET] by being able to learn a lot.
19 Evil men shall fall before the good; and the ungodly shall attend at the gates of the righteous.
[Some day] evil [people] will bow down in front of righteous [people to show that they respect them]; they [will humbly stand] at the gates of [the houses of] righteous [people and request their help].
20 Friends will hate poor friends; but the friends of the rich are many.
[No one likes] poor [people]; even their friends/neighbors do not like them; rich [people] have many friends, but [only while the rich people still have money].
21 He that dishonours the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
It is sinful to despise your [poor] neighbors; [God] is pleased with those who do kind things for 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.
Those who plan to do things that are evil/wrong are walking on the wrong road; people faithfully love, respect and are loyal to those who plan to do what is good.
23 With every one [who is] careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in lack.
If you work hard, you will (accomplish something good/get a good income), but if all you do is to talk [and not work], you will remain poor.
24 A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of fools is evil.
One of the rewards [MET] of being wise is to become rich; the reward of acting foolishly is to become more foolish.
25 A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful [man] kindles falsehoods.
By saying [in court] what is true, you [can] save the life [of the one who is being falsely accused]; if you tell lies, you are abandoning someone who needs your help [to defend him].
26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
Those who revere Yahweh are confident [that he will protect them], and their family will [also] be protected.
27 The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes [men] to turn aside from the snare of death.
Having an awesome respect for Yahweh is [like] [MET] [having] a fountain that gives life; it will help you to escape when something dangerous is threatening to kill you [MET].
28 In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince.
If a king rules over many people, many people will [be able to] honor him; if he has only a few people in his kingdom, he will have very little [HYP] power.
29 A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish.
Those who do not quickly become angry are very wise; by quickly becoming angry, people show that they are foolish.
30 A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones.
Having a mind that is peaceful results in having a healthy body; having a mind that is [often] in turmoil is [like] [MET] cancer in [a person’s] bones.
31 He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honours him has pity upon the poor.
Those who oppress poor people are insulting God, the one who made those poor people, but acting kindly toward them is respecting God.
32 The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just.
Wicked [people] ruin themselves by the evil things that they do, but righteous/good [people] are kept safe/protected even when they die (OR, because of their continually doing what is right).
33 There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned.
Those who have good sense always think what is wise; foolish people do not know anything about being wise.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
[When] the people of a nation [continually act] righteously, it causes that nation to be great; [continually doing what is] evil causes a nation to be disgraced.
35 An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behaviour he removes disgrace.
Kings are pleased with officials who do their work competently/skillfully, but they punish [MTY] those who [do their work in a manner that] causes the kings to be disgraced.
