Proverbs 14
1 Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
The wise woman builds her house, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears YHWH, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
The one who walks uprightly fears Yahweh, but the one who is dishonest in his ways despises him.
3 The fool's talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect 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 truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.
A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn't find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
A mocker seeks wisdom and there is none, but knowledge comes easy to the one who is discerning.
7 Stay away from a foolish man, for you won't find knowledge on his lips.
Walk away from a foolish person, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to think about 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 mock at making atonement for sins, 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 knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.
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 a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end only leads to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.
A heart can laugh but still be in pain and joy may end up being grief.
14 The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
The one who is not faithful will get what his ways deserve, but a good person will get what is his.
15 A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
The one who is naive believes everything, but the prudent man thinks about his steps.
16 A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but the fool is arrogant and reckless.
A wise man fears and turns away from evil, but the fool confidently dismisses a warning.
17 He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man 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 down 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 person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.
The poor person is hated even by his own companions, but the rich people have many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
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 go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan 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 hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
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 crowns them with folly.
The crown of wise people is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings them only more folly.
25 A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.
A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness breathes out lies.
26 In the fear of YHWH is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.
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 YHWH is a fountain of life, turning people 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 glory, but in the lack 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 who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
A patient person has great understanding, but the quick-tempered person exalts folly.
30 The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.
A tranquil heart is life for the body, but envy rots the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
The one who oppresses the poor curses his Maker, but the one who shows favor to the needy honors him.
32 The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but the righteous has a refuge 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 rests in the heart of one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.
Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning, but even among fools she lets herself be known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
Doing what is right exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king's favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
The favor of the king is with the servant who acts prudently, but his anger is for the one who acts shamefully.
