Proverbs 14
1 Every wise woman buildeth her house; but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD; but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth Him.
He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie; but a false witness breatheth forth lies.
An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.
6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; but knowledge is easy unto him that hath discernment.
A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, for thou wilt not perceive the lips of knowledge.
Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to look well to his way; but the folly of fools is deceit.
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
9 Amends pleadeth for fools; but among the upright there is good will.
Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright.
10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and with its joy no stranger can intermeddle.
The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares in its joy.
11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; but the tent of the upright shall flourish.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart acheth; and the end of mirth is heaviness.
Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow.
14 The dissembler in heart shall have his fill from his own ways; and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways.
15 The thoughtless believeth every word; but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.
16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; but the fool behaveth overbearingly, and is confident.
A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly; and a man of wicked devices is hated.
A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man is hated.
18 The thoughtless come into possession of folly; but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour; but the rich hath many friends.
The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich.
21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth; but he that is gracious unto the humble, happy is he.
He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
22 Shall they not go astray that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be for them that devise good.
Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness.
23 In all labour there is profit; but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches; but the folly of fools remaineth folly.
The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly.
25 A true witness delivereth souls; but he that breatheth forth lies is all deceit.
A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the LORD a man hath strong confidence; and his children shall have a place of refuge.
He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the king's glory; but in the want of people is the ruin of the prince.
A large population is a king’s splendor, but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.
29 He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
30 A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh; but envy is the rottenness of the bones.
A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
31 He that oppresseth the poor blasphemeth his Maker; but he that is gracious unto the needy honoureth Him.
Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked is thrust down in his misfortune; but the righteous, even when he is brought to death, hath hope.
The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.
33 In the heart of him that hath discernment wisdom resteth; but in the inward part of fools it maketh itself known.
Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; even among fools she is known.
34 Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people.
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king's favour is toward a servant that dealeth wisely; but his wrath striketh him that dealeth shamefully.
A king delights in a wise servant, but his anger falls on the shameful.
