Proverbs 14
1 The wise among women buildeth her house; but the foolish pulleth it down with her own hands.
The wise woman builds her house, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.
2 In his uprightness walketh he that feareth the Lord; but perverse in his ways is he that 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 stick [for his] pride; but the lips of the wise will 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, is the crib clean; but the abundance of harvests is [only] through 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 constantly uttereth lies.
A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.
6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none; but knowledge is easy to the man of understanding.
A mocker seeks wisdom and there is none, but knowledge comes easy to the one who is discerning.
7 Go far away from a foolish man, else thou wilt [never] know 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 The fool maketh a mockery of guilt; but among the upright there is good will.
Fools mock when the guilt offering is sacrificed, but among the upright favor is shared.
10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and with its joy can no stranger intermeddle.
The heart knows its own bitterness and no stranger shares its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed: but the tent of the upright will flourish.
The house of wicked people will be destroyed, but the tent of upright people will flourish.
12 There is many a way which seemeth even before a man; but its end are ways unto death.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end only leads to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart feeleth pain; and at its end joy is sorrow.
A heart can laugh but still be in pain and joy may end up being grief.
14 The backslider in heart will have enough of his own ways; and from him [departeth] the good men.
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 understandeth his steps.
The one who is naive believes everything, but the prudent man thinks about his steps.
16 A wise man is fearful, and departeth from evil; but the fool exciteth himself, 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 committeth folly; 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 crown themselves with knowledge.
The naive inherit foolishness, but prudent people are crowned with knowledge.
19 The bad sink down before the good; and the wicked are 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 Even to his own neighbor is the poor man hateful; but the friends of the rich are many.
The poor person is hated even by his own companions, but the rich people have many friends.
21 He that despiseth his neighbor is a sinner; but he that is gracious to the poor—happiness attend him!
The one who shows contempt for his neighbor is sinning, but the one who shows favor to the poor is blessed.
22 Behold, those who contrive evil are in error; but kindness and truth attend on those who contrive what is 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 painful labor there is profit; but mere words of the lips [lead] only to want.
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 folly of fools is [only] folly.
The crown of wise people is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings them only more folly.
25 A deliverer of souls is the true witness; but a witness of deceit uttereth lies.
A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness breathes out lies.
26 In the fear of the Lord is the strong confidence [of man], and unto his children will it be a place of shelter.
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 the source of life, [teaching] to avoid 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 glory; but in the want of a population is the downfall 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 anger is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit holdeth up [to view] his folly.
A patient person has great understanding, but the quick-tempered person exalts folly.
30 A sound heart is the life of the body; but jealousy is the rottenness of the bones.
A tranquil heart is life for the body, but envy rots the bones.
31 He that oppresseth the poor blasphemeth his Maker; but he that is gracious to the needy honoreth him.
The one who oppresses the poor curses his Maker, but the one who shows favor to the needy honors him.
32 Through his own evil is the wicked thrust down; but even in his death doth the righteous have confidence.
The wicked person is brought down by his evil actions, but the righteous person has a refuge even in death.
33 In the heart of the man of understanding resteth wisdom: but [the little which is] in the bosom 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 people; but the disgrace of nations is sin.
Doing what is right exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king's favor is bestowed on an intelligent servant; but his wrath is against him that deserveth shame.
The favor of the king is with the servant who acts prudently, but his anger is for the one who acts shamefully.
