Proverbs 14
1 The wise among women buildeth her house; but the foolish pulleth it down with her own hands.
Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one 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.
He who walks in his uprightness fears Yahweh, but he who is perverse 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.
The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where no oxen are, is the crib clean; but the abundance of harvests is [only] through the strength of the ox.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie; but a false witness constantly uttereth lies.
A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.
6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none; but knowledge is easy to the man of understanding.
A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
7 Go far away from a foolish man, else thou wilt [never] know the lips of knowledge.
Stay away from a foolish man, for you won’t 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 is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 The fool maketh a mockery of guilt; but among the upright there is good will.
Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will.
10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and with its joy can no stranger intermeddle.
The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed: but the tent of the upright will flourish.
The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright 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 which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart feeleth pain; and at its end joy is sorrow.
Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.
14 The backslider in heart will have enough of his own ways; and from him [departeth] the good men.
The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
15 The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man understandeth his steps.
A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
16 A wise man is fearful, and departeth from evil; but the fool exciteth himself, and is confident.
A wise man fears and shuns evil, but the fool is hot headed and reckless.
17 He that is soon angry committeth folly; and a man of wicked devices is hated.
He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly; but the prudent crown themselves with knowledge.
The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The bad sink down before the good; and the wicked are at the gates of the righteous.
The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 Even to his own neighbor is the poor man hateful; but the friends of the rich are many.
The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.
21 He that despiseth his neighbor is a sinner; but he that is gracious to the poor—happiness attend him!
He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has pity on 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.
Don’t they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
23 In all painful labor there is profit; but mere words of the lips [lead] only to want.
In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches; but the folly of fools is [only] folly.
The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.
25 A deliverer of souls is the true witness; but a witness of deceit uttereth lies.
A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord is the strong confidence [of man], and unto his children will it be a place of shelter.
In the fear of Yahweh is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his 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, turning people 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.
In the multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit holdeth up [to view] his folly.
He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
30 A sound heart is the life of the body; but jealousy is the rottenness of the bones.
The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.
31 He that oppresseth the poor blasphemeth his Maker; but he that is gracious to the needy honoreth him.
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind 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 is brought down in his calamity, but in death, the righteous has a refuge.
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 one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.
34 Righteousness exalteth a people; but the disgrace of nations is sin.
Righteousness 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 king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
