Proverbs 14
1 A wise woman builds up her household. But a foolish one will pull down with her own hands what has been built up.
The wise among women buildeth her house; but the foolish pulleth it down with her own hands.
2 One who walks on a virtuous journey, and who fears God, is despised by him who advances along a disreputable way.
In his uprightness walketh he that feareth the Lord; but perverse in his ways is he that despiseth him.
3 In the mouth of the foolish, there is a rod of arrogance. But the lips of the wise guard them.
In the mouth of the foolish is a stick [for his] pride; but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty. But where there are many crops, there the strength of the ox is manifest.
Where no oxen are, is the crib clean; but the abundance of harvests is [only] through the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie. But a deceitful witness offers a lie.
A faithful witness will not lie; but a false witness constantly uttereth lies.
6 A mocker seeks wisdom and does not find it. The doctrine of the prudent is accessible.
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none; but knowledge is easy to the man of understanding.
7 Go against a foolish man, and he does not acknowledge lips of prudence.
Go far away from a foolish man, else thou wilt [never] know the lips of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of a discerning man is to understand his way. And the imprudence of the foolish is to be wandering astray.
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 The foolish will speak mockingly of sin. But grace lingers among the just.
The fool maketh a mockery of guilt; but among the upright there is good will.
10 The heart that knows the bitterness of its own soul, in its gladness the outsider shall not meddle.
The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and with its joy can no stranger intermeddle.
11 The house of the impious will be wiped away. Yet truly, the tabernacles of the just shall spring forth.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed: but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way which seems just to a man, but its conclusion leads to death.
There is many a way which seemeth even before a man; but its end are ways unto death.
13 Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning occupies the limits of joy.
Even in laughter the heart feeleth pain; and at its end joy is sorrow.
14 The foolish will be filled up by his own ways. And the good man shall be above him.
The backslider in heart will have enough of his own ways; and from him [departeth] the good men.
15 The innocent trust every word. The astute one considers his own steps. Nothing good will be for the deceitful son. But the wise servant shall act prosperously and his way will be set in order.
The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man understandeth his steps.
16 The wise fear, and so turn away from evil. The foolish leap ahead with confidence.
A wise man is fearful, and departeth from evil; but the fool exciteth himself, and is confident.
17 The impatient will work foolishness. And a resourceful man is hated.
He that is soon angry committeth folly; and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 The childish will possess foolishness, and the discerning will anticipate knowledge.
The simple inherit folly; but the prudent crown themselves with knowledge.
19 The evil will fall down before the good. And the impious will fall down before the gates of the just.
The bad sink down before the good; and the wicked are at the gates of the righteous.
20 The pauper will be hated, even by his own neighbor. Yet truly, the friends of the wealthy are many.
Even to his own neighbor is the poor man hateful; but the friends of the rich are many.
21 Whoever despises his neighbor, sins. But whoever pities the poor shall be blessed. Whoever trusts in the Lord loves mercy.
He that despiseth his neighbor is a sinner; but he that is gracious to the poor—happiness attend him!
22 They wander astray who work evil. But mercy and truth prepare good things.
Behold, those who contrive evil are in error; but kindness and truth attend on those who contrive what is good.
23 In every work, there shall be abundance. But where there are many words, there is often need.
In all painful labor there is profit; but mere words of the lips [lead] only to want.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth. The senselessness of the foolish is imprudence.
The crown of the wise is their riches; but the folly of fools is [only] folly.
25 A faithful witness frees souls. And the chameleon utters lies.
A deliverer of souls is the true witness; but a witness of deceit uttereth lies.
26 In the fear of the Lord is the faithfulness of strength, and there shall be hope for his sons.
In the fear of the Lord is the strong confidence [of man], and unto his children will it be a place of shelter.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, so as to turn aside from the ruin of death.
The fear of the Lord is the source of life, [teaching] to avoid the snares of death.
28 In a multitude of people, there is dignity for the king. And in a paucity of people, there is disgrace for the prince.
In the multitude of people is the king's glory; but in the want of a population is the downfall of the prince.
29 Whoever is patient is governed by much prudence. But whoever is impatient exalts his foolishness.
He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit holdeth up [to view] his folly.
30 The well-being of the heart is life for the flesh. But envy is decay for the bones.
A sound heart is the life of the body; but jealousy is the rottenness of the bones.
31 Whoever slanders the indigent argues against his Maker. But he who has compassion on the poor honors his Maker.
He that oppresseth the poor blasphemeth his Maker; but he that is gracious to the needy honoreth him.
32 The impious will be expelled in his malice. But the just finds hope even in his own death.
Through his own evil is the wicked thrust down; but even in his death doth the righteous have confidence.
33 In the heart of the prudent, wisdom finds rest. And so shall he instruct all the uneducated.
In the heart of the man of understanding resteth wisdom: but [the little which is] in the bosom of fools is made known.
34 Justice elevates a nation. But sin makes the peoples miserable.
Righteousness exalteth a people; but the disgrace of nations is sin.
35 An intelligent minister is acceptable to the king. Whoever is useless shall bear his wrath.
The king's favor is bestowed on an intelligent servant; but his wrath is against him that deserveth shame.
