Proverbs 14
1 Every, wise woman, buildeth up her house, but, a foolish one, with her own hands, would break it down.
Wise women [PRS] hold their families together [by the wise things that they do], but foolish women ruin their families by the foolish things that they do.
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.
By [continually] behaving/acting righteously, [people show that they] greatly revere Yahweh; those who (walk on crooked paths/always deceive others) [show that they] despise him.
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!
Foolish people will be punished [MTY] for what they say, but wise [people] will be protected by what they say [MTY].
4 Without cattle, the crib is clean, but, much increase, is in the strength of the ox.
If [a man has] no oxen [to plow his field], he does not [need to put] grain [in their feedbox], but if [he has] oxen, they will enable [him to produce] an abundant crop.
5 A faithful witness, will not deceive, but a false witness, uttereth deceitful things.
Witnesses who are reliable [always] say what (is true/really happened), but witnesses who are not reliable constantly tell lies [about what happened].
6 A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and there is none, but, knowledge, to the discerning, is easy.
Those who make fun [of being wise] will never become wise, but those who understand [what is right] learn things easily.
7 Get thee from the presence of a man that is a dullard, when thou perceivest not the lips of knowledge.
Stay away from foolish people, because they will not be able to teach you anything [useful].
8 The wisdom of the prudent, is to understand his way, but, the folly of dullards, is a fraud.
Those who have good sense are wise, so they know what they should do [and what they should not do]; foolish people do not know what is right to do, but because they think that they do, they are deceiving themselves.
9 the foolish, scoff at guilt, but, between the upright, is good pleasure.
Foolish people make fun of their committing sins; but God is pleased with those who do what is right.
10 The heart, knoweth its own bitterness, and, in its joy, no stranger shareth.
If you are very sad or if you are joyful, only you know what you are experiencing; no one else [can] know what you are feeling.
11 The house of the lawless, shall be destroyed, but, the tent of the upright, shall flourish.
Houses built by wicked [people] will be destroyed, but houses built by good/righteous [people] will last for a long time.
12 There is a way that enticeth a man, but, at the latter end thereof, are the ways of death!
There are some kinds of behavior [MET] that [some] people [falsely] think are right, but (walking on those roads/continually doing those things) causes [those people] to die.
13 Even, in laughter, the heart may be in pain, and, the latter end of gladness, be grief.
[Sometimes] when people laugh, they are [really] sad, and when they stop laughing, they are still sad.
14 With his own ways, shall be filled the backslider in heart, and, from himself, shall a good man [be satisfied].
Those who stubbornly continue to do what is wrong will get what they deserve, and those who continually do what is good will [also] get what they deserve.
15 The simple, believeth every word, but, the prudent, looketh well to his going.
Foolish people believe everything [that people tell them]; those who have good sense think carefully about what will be the result of their actions.
16 A wise man, feareth, and avoideth evil, but, a dullard, is haughty and confident.
Wise people are careful and avoid [doing things that will give them] trouble; foolish people are careless and act (too quickly/without thinking).
17 The impatient, worketh folly, and, a man of wicked devices, is hated.
Those who quickly become angry [IDM] do foolish things; [people] hate those who plan to do wicked things (OR, those who have good sense remain calm/patient).
18 The simple inherit folly, but, the shrewd, crowneth himself with knowledge.
Foolish people get what they deserve for doing foolish things; those with good sense are rewarded [MET] by being able to learn a lot.
19 Abased are the wicked, before the good, and, the lawless, at the gates of the righteous.
[Some day] evil [people] will bow down in front of righteous [people to show that they respect them]; they [will humbly stand] at the gates of [the houses of] righteous [people and request their help].
20 Even by his neighbour, is a poor man hated, but, the lovers of the rich man, are many.
[No one likes] poor [people]; even their friends/neighbors do not like them; rich [people] have many friends, but [only while the rich people still have money].
21 He that sheweth contempt for his neighbour, sinneth, but, he that sheweth favour to the afflicted, how happy is he!
It is sinful to despise your [poor] neighbors; [God] is pleased with those who do kind things for the poor.
22 Shall they not, become vagrants, who devise evil? but, lovingkindness and faithfulness, [be to] them who devise good.
Those who plan to do things that are evil/wrong are walking on the wrong road; people faithfully love, respect and are loyal to those who plan to do what is good.
23 By all labour, there will be abundance, but, the talk of the lips, tendeth only to want.
If you work hard, you will (accomplish something good/get a good income), but if all you do is to talk [and not work], you will remain poor.
24 the crown of the wise, is their wealth, but, the folly of dullards, is, folly.
One of the rewards [MET] of being wise is to become rich; the reward of acting foolishly is to become more foolish.
25 A deliverer of souls, is a faithful witness, but, he that uttereth falsehoods, is a fraud.
By saying [in court] what is true, you [can] save the life [of the one who is being falsely accused]; if you tell lies, you are abandoning someone who needs your help [to defend him].
26 In the reverence of Yahweh, is strong security, and, his children, shall have a place of refuge.
Those who revere Yahweh are confident [that he will protect them], and their family will [also] be protected.
27 The reverence of Yahweh, is a well-spring of life, that a man may avoid the snares of death.
Having an awesome respect for Yahweh is [like] [MET] [having] a fountain that gives life; it will help you to escape when something dangerous is threatening to kill you [MET].
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.
If a king rules over many people, many people will [be able to] honor him; if he has only a few people in his kingdom, he will have very little [HYP] power.
29 One slow to anger, hath great understanding, but, the hasty in spirit, exalteth folly.
Those who do not quickly become angry are very wise; by quickly becoming angry, people show that they are foolish.
30 The life of the whole body, is a tranquil mind, but, a decay of the bones, is jealousy.
Having a mind that is peaceful results in having a healthy body; having a mind that is [often] in turmoil is [like] [MET] cancer in [a person’s] 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.
Those who oppress poor people are insulting God, the one who made those poor people, but acting kindly toward them is respecting God.
32 By his own wickedness, shall the lawless man, be thrust down, but the righteous, seeketh refuge in his integrity.
Wicked [people] ruin themselves by the evil things that they do, but righteous/good [people] are kept safe/protected even when they die (OR, because of their continually doing what is right).
33 In the heart of the intelligent, reposeth wisdom, but, in the midst of dullards, it maketh itself known.
Those who have good sense always think what is wise; foolish people do not know anything about being wise.
34 Righteousness, exalteth a nation, but, a reproach to any people, is sin.
[When] the people of a nation [continually act] righteously, it causes that nation to be great; [continually doing what is] evil causes a nation to be disgraced.
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.
Kings are pleased with officials who do their work competently/skillfully, but they punish [MTY] those who [do their work in a manner that] causes the kings to be disgraced.
