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 woman buildeth her house; But the foolish teareth it down with her hands.
2 One who walks on a virtuous journey, and who fears God, is despised by him who advances along a disreputable way.
He who walketh in uprightness feareth the LORD; But he who is perverse in his ways 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 pride is a scourge; But the lips of the wise 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 there are no oxen, the crib is clean; But there is great increase by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie. But a deceitful witness offers a lie.
A faithful witness doth not lie; But a false witness poureth forth lies.
6 A mocker seeks wisdom and does not find it. The doctrine of the prudent is accessible.
The scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; But knowledge is easy to the man of understanding.
7 Go against a foolish man, and he does not acknowledge lips of prudence.
Go from the presence of a foolish man; For thou hast not perceived in him 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 in giving heed to his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
9 The foolish will speak mockingly of sin. But grace lingers among the just.
Fools make a mock at sin; But with the upright is favor.
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 a stranger cannot intermeddle with its joy.
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 shall be destroyed; But the tent of the upright shall flourish.
12 There is a way which seems just to a man, but its conclusion leads to death.
There is a way which seemeth right to a man, But its end is the way to death.
13 Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning occupies the limits of joy.
Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, And the end of joy is grief.
14 The foolish will be filled up by his own ways. And the good man shall be above him.
The perverse in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And from himself shall the good man be satisfied.
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 man believeth every word; But the prudent looketh well to his steps.
16 The wise fear, and so turn away from evil. The foolish leap ahead with confidence.
The wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool is haughty and confident.
17 The impatient will work foolishness. And a resourceful man is hated.
He who is hasty in his anger will commit folly; And the man of wicked devices will be hated.
18 The childish will possess foolishness, and the discerning will anticipate knowledge.
The simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil will fall down before the good. And the impious will fall down before the gates of the just.
The evil bow before the good; Yea, the wicked 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.
The poor is hated even by his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends.
21 Whoever despises his neighbor, sins. But whoever pities the poor shall be blessed. Whoever trusts in the Lord loves mercy.
He who despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But happy is he who hath mercy on the poor.
22 They wander astray who work evil. But mercy and truth prepare good things.
Do not they who devise evil fail of their end? But they who devise good meet with kindness and truth.
23 In every work, there shall be abundance. But where there are many words, there is often need.
In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth. The senselessness of the foolish is imprudence.
Riches are a crown to the wise; But the promotion of fools is folly.
25 A faithful witness frees souls. And the chameleon utters lies.
A true witness saveth lives; But a deceitful witness poureth forth 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 strong confidence; Yea, to his children he will be a refuge.
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 a fountain of life; By it men escape from 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 a numerous people is the glory of a king; But the want of people is the destruction of a prince.
29 Whoever is patient is governed by much prudence. But whoever is impatient exalts his foolishness.
He who is slow to anger is of great understanding. But he who is of a hasty spirit setteth folly on high.
30 The well-being of the heart is life for the flesh. But envy is decay for the bones.
A quiet heart is the life of the flesh; But the ferment of passion is rottenness to the bones.
31 Whoever slanders the indigent argues against his Maker. But he who has compassion on the poor honors his Maker.
He who oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he who hath mercy on the poor honoreth him.
32 The impious will be expelled in his malice. But the just finds hope even in his own death.
By his wickedness the wicked is thrust down; But the righteous hath hope even in death.
33 In the heart of the prudent, wisdom finds rest. And so shall he instruct all the uneducated.
Wisdom resteth quietly in the heart of the wise; But in the breast of fools it will be made known.
34 Justice elevates a nation. But sin makes the peoples miserable.
Righteousness exalteth a people; But the reproach 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 toward a wise servant; But his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
