Proverbs 14
1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but [he that is] perverse in his ways despiseth him.
He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of the foolish [is] a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where no oxen [are], the crib [is] clean: but much increase [is] by the strength of the ox.
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.
6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not: but knowledge [is] easy to him that understandeth.
A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not [in him] the lips of knowledge.
Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.
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 discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous [there is] favor.
Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright.
10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.
The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares in its joy.
11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way which seemeth right to a man, but the end of it [are] the ways of death.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth [is] heaviness.
Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow.
14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.
The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways.
15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.
16 A wise [man] feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
17 [He that is] soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is hated even by his own neighbor: but the rich [hath] many friends.
The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich.
21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy [is] he.
He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth [shall be] to them that devise good.
Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness.
23 In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.
There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise [is] their riches: [but] the foolishness of fools [is] folly.
The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly.
25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful [witness] speaketh lies.
A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the LORD [is] strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD [is] a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people [is] the king's honor: but in the want of people [is] the destruction of the prince.
A large population is a king’s splendor, but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.
29 [He that is] slow to wrath [is] of great understanding: but [he that is] hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
30 A sound heart [is] the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoreth him hath mercy on the poor.
Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.
33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but [that which is] in the midst of fools is made known.
Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; even among fools she is known.
34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin [is] a reproach to any people.
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king's favor [is] towards a wise servant: but his wrath is [against] him that causeth shame.
A king delights in a wise servant, but his anger falls on the shameful.
