Proverbs 14
1 Every, wise woman, buildeth up her house, but, a foolish one, with her own hands, would break it down.
A wise woman builds up her household. But a foolish one will pull down with her own hands what has been built up.
2 He that walketh in his uprightness, is one who revereth Yahweh, but, he that is crooked in his way, is one who despiseth him.
One who walks on a virtuous journey, and who fears God, is despised by him who advances along a disreputable way.
3 In the mouth of the foolish, is a haughty rod, but, as for the lips of the wise, thou shalt give heed to them!
In the mouth of the foolish, there is a rod of arrogance. But the lips of the wise guard them.
4 Without cattle, the crib is clean, but, much increase, is in the strength of the ox.
Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty. But where there are many crops, there the strength of the ox is manifest.
5 A faithful witness, will not deceive, but a false witness, uttereth deceitful things.
A faithful witness will not lie. But a deceitful witness offers a lie.
6 A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and there is none, but, knowledge, to the discerning, is easy.
A mocker seeks wisdom and does not find it. The doctrine of the prudent is accessible.
7 Get thee from the presence of a man that is a dullard, when thou perceivest not the lips of knowledge.
Go against a foolish man, and he does not acknowledge lips of prudence.
8 The wisdom of the prudent, is to understand his way, but, the folly of dullards, is a fraud.
The wisdom of a discerning man is to understand his way. And the imprudence of the foolish is to be wandering astray.
9 the foolish, scoff at guilt, but, between the upright, is good pleasure.
The foolish will speak mockingly of sin. But grace lingers among the just.
10 The heart, knoweth its own bitterness, and, in its joy, no stranger shareth.
The heart that knows the bitterness of its own soul, in its gladness the outsider shall not meddle.
11 The house of the lawless, shall be destroyed, but, the tent of the upright, shall flourish.
The house of the impious will be wiped away. Yet truly, the tabernacles of the just shall spring forth.
12 There is a way that enticeth a man, but, at the latter end thereof, are the ways of death!
There is a way which seems just to a man, but its conclusion leads to death.
13 Even, in laughter, the heart may be in pain, and, the latter end of gladness, be grief.
Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning occupies the limits of joy.
14 With his own ways, shall be filled the backslider in heart, and, from himself, shall a good man [be satisfied].
The foolish will be filled up by his own ways. And the good man shall be above him.
15 The simple, believeth every word, but, the prudent, looketh well to his going.
The innocent trust every word. The astute one considers his own steps. Nothing good will be for the deceitful son. But the wise servant shall act prosperously and his way will be set in order.
16 A wise man, feareth, and avoideth evil, but, a dullard, is haughty and confident.
The wise fear, and so turn away from evil. The foolish leap ahead with confidence.
17 The impatient, worketh folly, and, a man of wicked devices, is hated.
The impatient will work foolishness. And a resourceful man is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly, but, the shrewd, crowneth himself with knowledge.
The childish will possess foolishness, and the discerning will anticipate knowledge.
19 Abased are the wicked, before the good, and, the lawless, at the gates of the righteous.
The evil will fall down before the good. And the impious will fall down before the gates of the just.
20 Even by his neighbour, is a poor man hated, but, the lovers of the rich man, are many.
The pauper will be hated, even by his own neighbor. Yet truly, the friends of the wealthy are many.
21 He that sheweth contempt for his neighbour, sinneth, but, he that sheweth favour to the afflicted, how happy is he!
Whoever despises his neighbor, sins. But whoever pities the poor shall be blessed. Whoever trusts in the Lord loves mercy.
22 Shall they not, become vagrants, who devise evil? but, lovingkindness and faithfulness, [be to] them who devise good.
They wander astray who work evil. But mercy and truth prepare good things.
23 By all labour, there will be abundance, but, the talk of the lips, tendeth only to want.
In every work, there shall be abundance. But where there are many words, there is often need.
24 the crown of the wise, is their wealth, but, the folly of dullards, is, folly.
The crown of the wise is their wealth. The senselessness of the foolish is imprudence.
25 A deliverer of souls, is a faithful witness, but, he that uttereth falsehoods, is a fraud.
A faithful witness frees souls. And the chameleon utters lies.
26 In the reverence of Yahweh, is strong security, and, his children, shall have a place of refuge.
In the fear of the Lord is the faithfulness of strength, and there shall be hope for his sons.
27 The reverence of Yahweh, is a well-spring of life, that a man may avoid the snares of death.
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, so as to turn aside from the ruin of death.
28 In the multitude of a people, is the majesty of the king, but, in the ceasing of population, is the ruin of the prince.
In a multitude of people, there is dignity for the king. And in a paucity of people, there is disgrace for the prince.
29 One slow to anger, hath great understanding, but, the hasty in spirit, exalteth folly.
Whoever is patient is governed by much prudence. But whoever is impatient exalts his foolishness.
30 The life of the whole body, is a tranquil mind, but, a decay of the bones, is jealousy.
The well-being of the heart is life for the flesh. But envy is decay for the bones.
31 The oppressor of the poor, hath reproached his Maker, but he that sheweth favour to the needy, is one who, holdeth Him in honour.
Whoever slanders the indigent argues against his Maker. But he who has compassion on the poor honors his Maker.
32 By his own wickedness, shall the lawless man, be thrust down, but the righteous, seeketh refuge in his integrity.
The impious will be expelled in his malice. But the just finds hope even in his own death.
33 In the heart of the intelligent, reposeth wisdom, but, in the midst of dullards, it maketh itself known.
In the heart of the prudent, wisdom finds rest. And so shall he instruct all the uneducated.
34 Righteousness, exalteth a nation, but, a reproach to any people, is sin.
Justice elevates a nation. But sin makes the peoples miserable.
35 The good-pleasure of a king, is due to a servant who is discreet, but, his indignation, shall be against him that bringeth shame.
An intelligent minister is acceptable to the king. Whoever is useless shall bear his wrath.
