Proverbs 14
1 Every wise woman builds her house, but the stupid woman tears it down with her own hands.
Every wise woman has built her house, And the foolish breaks it down with her hands.
2 Those who live right respect the Lord, but those who live dishonestly despise him.
Whoever is walking in his uprightness is fearing YHWH, And the perverted is despising Him [in] his ways.
3 What stupid people say punishes their pride, but what wise people say will protect them.
A rod of pride [is] in the mouth of a fool, And the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 Without oxen, the manger is empty, but a good harvest comes through the ox's strength.
Without oxen a stall [is] clean, And great [is] the increase by the power of the ox.
5 A trustworthy witness doesn't lie, but a false witness is deceptive.
A faithful witness does not lie, And a false witness breathes out lies.
6 It's pointless for a scoffer to look for wisdom, but knowledge comes easily to someone who understands.
A scorner has sought wisdom, and it is not, And knowledge [is] easy to the intelligent.
7 Stay away from stupid people—you won't learn anything from them.
Go from before a foolish man, Or you have not known the lips of knowledge.
8 Sensible people use their wisdom to decide where they're going, but the foolishness of stupid people is treacherous.
The wisdom of the prudent [is] to understand his way, And the folly of fools [is] deceit.
9 Stupid people laugh at sin, but good people want forgiveness.
Fools mock at a guilt-offering, And among the upright—a pleasing thing.
10 The individual's mind alone knows its sadnesses, and no one else can share its happiness.
The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not interfere with its joy.
11 The house of wicked people will be destroyed, but the tent of good people will prosper.
The house of the wicked is destroyed, And the tent of the upright flourishes.
12 There's a way that seems to be right, but in the end it's the way of death.
There is a way—right before a man, And its latter end [are] ways of death.
13 Even when you're laughing you can be feeling sad—joy can end in grief.
Even in laughter is the heart pained, And the latter end of joy [is] affliction.
14 Disloyal people are repaid for what they do, and good people are rewarded.
The backslider in heart is filled from his ways, And a good man—from his fruits.
15 Stupid people believe whatever they're told, but sensible people think about what they're doing.
The simple gives credence to everything, And the prudent attends to his step.
16 Wise people are careful and avoid evil, but stupid people are confidently reckless.
The wise is fearing and turning from evil, And a fool is transgressing and is confident.
17 Quick-tempered people act foolishly, while people who make evil plans are hated.
Whoever is short of temper does folly, And a man of wicked schemes is hated.
18 The inheritance of stupid people is stupidity, but sensible people are rewarded with knowledge.
The simple have inherited folly, And the prudent are crowned [with] knowledge.
19 Evil people bow down before good people, and the wicked bow down at the doors of those who do right.
The evil have bowed down before the good, And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor are hated even by their neighbors, while the rich have many friends.
The poor is hated even of his neighbor, And those loving the rich [are] many.
21 People who look down on their neighbors are sinners, but those who are kind to the poor are blessed.
Whoever is despising his neighbor sins, Whoever is favoring the humble, O his blessedness.
22 Aren't people who plan to do evil wrong? But those who plan to do good have trustworthy love and faithfulness.
Do they who are devising evil not err? And kindness and truth [are] to those devising good,
23 There's profit in hard work, but chatting just leads to poverty.
In all labor there is advantage, And a thing of the lips [is] only to want.
24 The wise are rewarded with wealth, but stupid people are rewarded with stupidity.
The crown of the wise is their wealth, The folly of fools [is] folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is treacherous.
A true witness is delivering souls, And a deceitful one breathes out lies.
26 People who honor the Lord are completely safe; he will protect their children.
Strong confidence [is] in the fear of YHWH, And there is a refuge to His sons.
27 Respecting the Lord is like a fountain of life, so you can avoid the snares of death.
The fear of YHWH [is] a fountain of life, To turn aside from snares of death.
28 The glory of a king is the number of his subjects, for a ruler is nothing without them.
The honor of a king [is] in the multitude of a people, And the ruin of a prince in lack of people.
29 If you're slow to get angry, you're very wise; but if you have a short fuse you glorify stupidity.
Whoever is slow to anger [is] of great understanding, And whoever is short in temper is exalting folly.
30 A peaceful mind makes your body healthy, but jealousy makes your bones rot.
A healed heart [is] life to the flesh, And rottenness to the bones [is] envy.
31 Anyone who oppresses the poor insults their Maker, but anyone who is kind to the needy honors him.
An oppressor of the poor reproaches his Maker, And whoever is honoring Him Is favoring the needy.
32 Wicked people are brought down by their own evil actions, but those who live right are confident even in death.
The wicked is driven away in his wickedness, And the righteous [is] trustful in his death.
33 Wisdom is at home in a mind that understands, but it's not found among stupid people.
Wisdom rests in the heart of the intelligent. And it is known in the midst of fools.
34 Doing right makes a nation successful, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
Righteousness exalts a nation, And the righteousness of peoples [is] a sin-offering.
35 A servant who acts wisely is appreciated by the king, but he gets angry with a servant who acts disgracefully.
The favor of a king [is] to a wise servant, And one causing shame is an object of his wrath!
