Proverbs 14

1 A wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish will pull down with her hands that also which is built.

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 walketh in the right way, and feareth God, Cis despised by him that goeth by an infamous 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 a fool is the 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 there are no oxen, the crib is empty: but where there is much corn, 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 uttereth 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 scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: the learning of the wise is easy.

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 knoweth not the lips of prudence.

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

8 The wisdom of a. discreet man is to understand his way: and the imprudence of fools erreth.

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 A fool will laugh at sin, but among the just grace shall abide.

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

10 The heart that knoweth the bitterness of his own soul, in his joy the stranger shall not intermeddle.

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 wicked shall be destroyed: but the tabernacles of the just shall flourish.

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 seemeth just to a man: but the ends thereof lead 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 taketh hold of the end of joy.

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

14 A fool shall be filled with 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 believeth every word: the discreet man considereth his steps. No good shall come to the deceitful son: but the wise servant shall prosper in his dealings, and his way shall be made straight.

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 feareth and declineth from evil: the fool leapeth over and is confident.

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 man shall work folly: and the crafty man is hateful.

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 shall possess folly, and the prudent, shall look for 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 shall fall down before the good: and the wicked 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 poor man shall be hateful even to his own neighbour: 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 despiseth his neighbour, sinneth: but he that sheweth mercy to the poor, shall be blessed. He that believeth in the Lord, loveth mercy.

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

22 They err that 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 much work there shall be abundance: but where there are many words, there is oftentimes want.

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 riches: the folly of fools, 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 delivereth souls: and the double dealer uttereth 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 confidence of strength, and there shall be hope for his children.

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, to decline 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 the multitude of people is the dignity of the king: and in the small number of people the dishonour of 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 He that is patient, is governed with much wisdom: but he that is impatient, exalteth his folly.

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

30 Soundness of heart is the life of the flesh: but envy is the rottenness 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 oppresseth the poor, upbraideth his Maker: but he that hath pity on the poor, honoureth him.

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 wicked man shall be driven out in his wickedness: but the just hath hope in his 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 resteth wisdom, and it shall instruct all the ignorant.

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

34 Justice exalteth a nation: but sin maketh nations 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 A wise servant is acceptable to the king: he that is good for nothing shall feel his anger.

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.