Proverbs 14
1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
The wise woman builds her house, but a foolish woman 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.
The one who walks uprightly fears Yahweh, but the one who is dishonest 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.
From the mouth of a fool comes an offshoot of his pride, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where no oxen [are], the crib [is] clean: but much increase [is] by the strength of the ox.
Where there are no cattle the feeding trough is clean, but an abundant crop can come by the strength of an ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.
6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not: but knowledge [is] easy unto him that understandeth.
A mocker seeks wisdom and there is none, but knowledge comes easy to the one who is discerning.
7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not [in him] the lips of knowledge.
Walk away from a foolish person, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.
8 The wisdom of the prudent [is] to understand his way: but the folly of fools [is] deceit.
The wisdom of the prudent person is to understand his own way, but the folly of fools is deception.
9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous [there is] favour.
Fools mock when the guilt offering is sacrificed, but among the upright favor is shared.
10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
The heart knows its own bitterness and no stranger shares its joy.
11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
The house of wicked people will be destroyed, but the tent of upright people 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 only leads to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth [is] heaviness.
A heart can laugh but still be in pain and joy may end up being grief.
14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.
The one who is not faithful will get what his ways deserve, but a good person will get what is his.
15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent [man] looketh well to his going.
The one who is naive believes everything, but the prudent man thinks about his steps.
16 A wise [man] feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
A wise man fears and turns away from evil, but the fool confidently dismisses a warning.
17 [He that is] soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
One who is quick to become angry does foolish things, and a person who makes evil schemes is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
The naive inherit foolishness, but prudent people are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
Evil people will bow down before those who are good and those who are wicked will bow down at the gates of the righteous person.
20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich [hath] many friends.
The poor person is hated even by his own companions, but the rich people have many friends.
21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy [is] he.
The one who shows contempt for his neighbor is sinning, but the one who shows favor to the poor is blessed.
22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth [shall be] to them that devise good.
Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan to do good will receive covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness.
23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.
With all hard work comes a profit, but when there is only talk, it leads to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise [is] their riches: [but] the foolishness of fools [is] folly.
The crown of wise people is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings them only more folly.
25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful [witness] speaketh lies.
A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness breathes out lies.
26 In the fear of the LORD [is] strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
When someone fears Yahweh, he also has much confidence in him; these things will be like a strong place of protection for this man's children.
27 The fear of the LORD [is] a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life, so that a person may turn away from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people [is] the king’s honour: but in the want of people [is] the destruction of the prince.
The glory of a king is found in the great number of his people, but without people the prince is ruined.
29 [He that is] slow to wrath [is] of great understanding: but [he that is] hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
A patient person has great understanding, but the quick-tempered person exalts folly.
30 A sound heart [is] the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
A tranquil heart is life for the body, but envy rots the bones.
31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
The one who oppresses the poor curses his Maker, but the one who shows favor to the needy honors him.
32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
The wicked person is brought down by his evil actions, but the righteous person has a refuge even in death.
33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but [that which is] in the midst of fools is made known.
Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning, but even among fools she lets herself be known.
34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin [is] a reproach to any people.
Doing what is right exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king’s favour [is] toward a wise servant: but his wrath is [against] him that causeth shame.
The favor of the king is with the servant who acts prudently, but his anger is for the one who acts shamefully.
