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.

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 One who walks on a virtuous journey, and who fears God, is despised by him who advances along a disreputable way.

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 In the mouth of the foolish, there is a rod of arrogance. But the lips of the wise guard them.

Foolish people will be punished [MTY] for what they say, but wise [people] will be protected by what they say [MTY].

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.

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 will not lie. But a deceitful witness offers a lie.

Witnesses who are reliable [always] say what (is true/really happened), but witnesses who are not reliable constantly tell lies [about what happened].

6 A mocker seeks wisdom and does not find it. The doctrine of the prudent is accessible.

Those who make fun [of being wise] will never become wise, but those who understand [what is right] learn things easily.

7 Go against a foolish man, and he does not acknowledge lips of prudence.

Stay away from foolish people, because they will not be able to teach you anything [useful].

8 The wisdom of a discerning man is to understand his way. And the imprudence of the foolish is to be wandering 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 foolish will speak mockingly of sin. But grace lingers among the just.

Foolish people make fun of their committing sins; but God is pleased with those who do what is right.

10 The heart that knows the bitterness of its own soul, in its gladness the outsider shall not meddle.

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 house of the impious will be wiped away. Yet truly, the tabernacles of the just shall spring forth.

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 just to a man, but its conclusion leads to death.

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 Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning occupies the limits of joy.

[Sometimes] when people laugh, they are [really] sad, and when they stop laughing, they are still sad.

14 The foolish will be filled up by his own ways. And the good man shall be above him.

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 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.

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 The wise fear, and so turn away from evil. The foolish leap ahead with confidence.

Wise people are careful and avoid [doing things that will give them] trouble; foolish people are careless and act (too quickly/without thinking).

17 The impatient will work foolishness. And a resourceful man is hated.

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 The childish will possess foolishness, and the discerning will anticipate knowledge.

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 The evil will fall down before the good. And the impious will fall down before the gates of the just.

[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 The pauper will be hated, even by his own neighbor. Yet truly, the friends of the wealthy 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 Whoever despises his neighbor, sins. But whoever pities the poor shall be blessed. Whoever trusts in the Lord loves mercy.

It is sinful to despise your [poor] neighbors; [God] is pleased with those who do kind things for the poor.

22 They wander astray who work evil. But mercy and truth prepare good things.

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 In every work, there shall be abundance. But where there are many words, there is often need.

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 The crown of the wise is their wealth. The senselessness of the foolish is imprudence.

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 frees souls. And the chameleon utters lies.

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 the faithfulness of strength, and there shall be hope for his sons.

Those who revere Yahweh are confident [that he will protect them], and their family will [also] be protected.

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, so as to turn aside from the ruin 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 multitude of people, there is dignity for the king. And in a paucity of people, there is disgrace for the 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 Whoever is patient is governed by much prudence. But whoever is impatient exalts his foolishness.

Those who do not quickly become angry are very wise; by quickly becoming angry, people show that they are foolish.

30 The well-being of the heart is life for the flesh. But envy is decay for 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 Whoever slanders the indigent argues against his Maker. But he who has compassion on the poor honors his Maker.

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 impious will be expelled in his malice. But the just finds hope even in his own death.

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 In the heart of the prudent, wisdom finds rest. And so shall he instruct all the uneducated.

Those who have good sense always think what is wise; foolish people do not know anything about being wise.

34 Justice elevates a nation. But sin makes the peoples miserable.

[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 intelligent minister is acceptable to the king. Whoever is useless shall bear his wrath.

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.