Proverbs 14
1 Every wise woman has built her house, And the foolish breaks it down with her hands.
A wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish will pull down with her hands that also which is built.
2 Whoever is walking in his uprightness is fearing YHWH, And the perverted is despising Him [in] his ways.
He that walketh in the right way, and feareth God, Cis despised by him that goeth by an infamous way.
3 A rod of pride [is] in the mouth of a fool, And the lips of the wise preserve them.
In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride: but the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 Without oxen a stall [is] clean, And great [is] the increase by the power of the ox.
Where there are no oxen, the crib is empty: but where there is much corn, there the strength of the ox is manifest.
5 A faithful witness does not lie, And a false witness breathes out lies.
A faithful witness will not lie: but a deceitful witness uttereth a lie.
6 A scorner has sought wisdom, and it is not, And knowledge [is] easy to the intelligent.
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: the learning of the wise is easy.
7 Go from before a foolish man, Or you have not known the lips of knowledge.
Go against a foolish man, and he knoweth not the lips of prudence.
8 The wisdom of the prudent [is] to understand his way, And the folly of fools [is] deceit.
The wisdom of a. discreet man is to understand his way: and the imprudence of fools erreth.
9 Fools mock at a guilt-offering, And among the upright—a pleasing thing.
A fool will laugh at sin, but among the just grace shall abide.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not interfere with its joy.
The heart that knoweth the bitterness of his own soul, in his joy the stranger shall not intermeddle.
11 The house of the wicked is destroyed, And the tent of the upright flourishes.
The house of the wicked shall be destroyed: but the tabernacles of the just shall flourish.
12 There is a way—right before a man, And its latter end [are] ways of death.
There is a way which seemeth just to a man: but the ends thereof lead to death.
13 Even in laughter is the heart pained, And the latter end of joy [is] affliction.
Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning taketh hold of the end of joy.
14 The backslider in heart is filled from his ways, And a good man—from his fruits.
A fool shall be filled with his own ways, and the good man shall be above him.
15 The simple gives credence to everything, And the prudent attends to his step.
The innocent believeth every word: the discreet man considereth his steps. No good shall come to the deceitful son: but the wise servant shall prosper in his dealings, and his way shall be made straight.
16 The wise is fearing and turning from evil, And a fool is transgressing and is confident.
A wise man feareth and declineth from evil: the fool leapeth over and is confident.
17 Whoever is short of temper does folly, And a man of wicked schemes is hated.
The impatient man shall work folly: and the crafty man is hateful.
18 The simple have inherited folly, And the prudent are crowned [with] knowledge.
The childish shall possess folly, and the prudent, shall look for knowledge.
19 The evil have bowed down before the good, And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
The evil shall fall down before the good: and the wicked before the gates of the just.
20 The poor is hated even of his neighbor, And those loving the rich [are] many.
The poor man shall be hateful even to his own neighbour: but the friends of the rich are many.
21 Whoever is despising his neighbor sins, Whoever is favoring the humble, O his blessedness.
He that despiseth his neighbour, sinneth: but he that sheweth mercy to the poor, shall be blessed. He that believeth in the Lord, loveth mercy.
22 Do they who are devising evil not err? And kindness and truth [are] to those devising good,
They err that work evil: but mercy and truth prepare good things.
23 In all labor there is advantage, And a thing of the lips [is] only to want.
In much work there shall be abundance: but where there are many words, there is oftentimes want.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, The folly of fools [is] folly.
The crown of the wise is their riches: the folly of fools, imprudence.
25 A true witness is delivering souls, And a deceitful one breathes out lies.
A faithful witness delivereth souls: and the double dealer uttereth lies.
26 Strong confidence [is] in the fear of YHWH, And there is a refuge to His sons.
In the fear of the Lord is confidence of strength, and there shall be hope for his children.
27 The fear of YHWH [is] a fountain of life, To turn aside from snares of death.
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to decline from the ruin of death.
28 The honor of a king [is] in the multitude of a people, And the ruin of a prince in lack of people.
In the multitude of people is the dignity of the king: and in the small number of people the dishonour of the prince.
29 Whoever is slow to anger [is] of great understanding, And whoever is short in temper is exalting folly.
He that is patient, is governed with much wisdom: but he that is impatient, exalteth his folly.
30 A healed heart [is] life to the flesh, And rottenness to the bones [is] envy.
Soundness of heart is the life of the flesh: but envy is the rottenness of the bones.
31 An oppressor of the poor reproaches his Maker, And whoever is honoring Him Is favoring the needy.
He that oppresseth the poor, upbraideth his Maker: but he that hath pity on the poor, honoureth him.
32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness, And the righteous [is] trustful in his death.
The wicked man shall be driven out in his wickedness: but the just hath hope in his death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the intelligent. And it is known in the midst of fools.
In the heart of the prudent resteth wisdom, and it shall instruct all the ignorant.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, And the righteousness of peoples [is] a sin-offering.
Justice exalteth a nation: but sin maketh nations miserable.
35 The favor of a king [is] to a wise servant, And one causing shame is an object of his wrath!
A wise servant is acceptable to the king: he that is good for nothing shall feel his anger.
