Proverbs 14
1 Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs [hers] down with her hands.
The wise woman builds her house, but a foolish 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.
The one who walks uprightly fears Yahweh, but the one who is dishonest 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.
From the mouth of a fool comes an offshoot of 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 there are no cattle the feeding trough is clean, but an abundant crop can come by the strength of an ox.
5 A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.
A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out 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 there is none, but knowledge comes easy to the one who is discerning.
7 All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
Walk away from a foolish person, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.
8 The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.
The wisdom of the prudent person is to understand his own way, but the folly of fools is deception.
9 The houses of transgressors will need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
Fools mock when the guilt offering is sacrificed, but among the upright favor is shared.
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 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 wicked people will be destroyed, but the tent of upright people 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 only leads to death.
13 Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
A heart can laugh but still be in pain and joy may end up being grief.
14 A stout-hearted [man] shall be filled with his own ways; and a good man with his own thoughts.
The one who is not faithful will get what his ways deserve, but a good person will get what is his.
15 The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes himself to afterthought.
The one who is naive believes everything, but the prudent man thinks about 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 away from evil, but the fool confidently dismisses a warning.
17 A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
One who is quick to become angry does foolish things, and a person who makes evil schemes is hated.
18 Fools shall have mischief for their portion; but the prudent shall take fast hold of understanding.
The naive inherit foolishness, but prudent people are crowned with knowledge.
19 Evil men shall fall before the good; and the ungodly shall attend at the gates of the righteous.
Evil people will bow down before those who are good and those who are wicked will bow down at the gates of the righteous person.
20 Friends will hate poor friends; but the friends of the rich are many.
The poor person is hated even by his own companions, but the rich people have many friends.
21 He that dishonours the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
The one who shows contempt for his neighbor is sinning, but the one who shows favor to the poor is 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.
Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan to do good will receive covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness.
23 With every one [who is] careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in lack.
With all hard work comes a profit, but when there is only talk, it leads to poverty.
24 A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of fools is evil.
The crown of wise people is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings them only more folly.
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 breathes out lies.
26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
When someone fears Yahweh, he also has much confidence in him; these things will be like a strong place of protection for this man's children.
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 Yahweh is a fountain of life, so that a person may turn away 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.
The glory of a king is found in the great number of his people, but without people the prince is ruined.
29 A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish.
A patient person has great understanding, but the quick-tempered person exalts 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 for 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.
The one who oppresses the poor curses his Maker, but the one who shows favor 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 person is brought down by his evil actions, but the righteous person 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, but even among fools she lets herself be known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
Doing what is right 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.
The favor of the king is with the servant who acts prudently, but his anger is for the one who acts shamefully.
