Proverbs 14
1 Every wise woman builds her house, but the stupid woman tears it down with her own hands.
Every wise woman hath builded her house, And the foolish with her hands breaketh it down.
2 Those who live right respect the Lord, but those who live dishonestly despise him.
Whoso is walking in his uprightness is fearing Jehovah, And the perverted [in] his ways is despising Him.
3 What stupid people say punishes their pride, but what wise people say will protect them.
In the mouth of a fool [is] a rod of pride, 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 lieth not, And a false witness breatheth out lies.
6 It's pointless for a scoffer to look for wisdom, but knowledge comes easily to someone who understands.
A scorner hath sought wisdom, and it is not, And knowledge to the intelligent [is] easy.
7 Stay away from stupid people—you won't learn anything from them.
Go from before a foolish man, Or thou hast 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 knoweth its own bitterness, And with its joy a stranger doth not intermeddle.
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 flourisheth.
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.
From his ways is the backslider in heart filled, 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 giveth credence to everything, And the prudent attendeth 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.
Whoso is short of temper doth folly, And a man of wicked devices 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.
Even of his neighbour is the poor hated, 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.
Whoso is despising his neighbour sinneth, Whoso is favouring the humble, O his happiness.
22 Aren't people who plan to do evil wrong? But those who plan to do good have trustworthy love and faithfulness.
Do not they err who are devising evil? And kindness and truth [are] to those devising good,
23 There's profit in hard work, but chatting just leads to poverty.
In all labour 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 breatheth out lies.
26 People who honor the Lord are completely safe; he will protect their children.
In the fear of Jehovah [is] strong confidence, And to His sons there is a refuge.
27 Respecting the Lord is like a fountain of life, so you can avoid the snares of death.
The fear of Jehovah [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.
In the multitude of a people [is] the honour of a king, And in lack of people the ruin of a prince.
29 If you're slow to get angry, you're very wise; but if you have a short fuse you glorify stupidity.
Whoso is slow to anger [is] of great understanding, And whoso 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 reproacheth his Maker, And whoso is honouring Him Is favouring the needy.
32 Wicked people are brought down by their own evil actions, but those who live right are confident even in death.
In his wickedness is the wicked driven away, And trustful in his death [is] the righteous.
33 Wisdom is at home in a mind that understands, but it's not found among stupid people.
In the heart of the intelligent wisdom doth rest. And in the midst of fools it is known.
34 Doing right makes a nation successful, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
Righteousness exalteth a nation, And the goodliness 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 favour of a king [is] to a wise servant, And an object of his wrath is one causing shame!
