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 the 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 his uprightness fears Adonai, but he who is perverse 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 fool’s talk 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 no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.
6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not: but knowledge [is] easy to him that understandeth.
A scoffer seeks wisdom, and does not find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
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, for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.
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 think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous [there is] favor.
Fools mock at making atonement for faults incurring guilt, but among the upright there is good will.
10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.
The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.
11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
The house of the wicked will be overthrown, 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 which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth [is] heaviness.
Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.
14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.
The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
A simple man trusts everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
16 A wise [man] feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
A wise man fears, and shuns evil, but the fool is hot headed and reckless.
17 [He that is] soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty 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 down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the upright.
20 The poor is hated even by his own neighbor: but the rich [hath] many friends.
The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many 'ahav ·affectionate lovers, friends·.
21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy [is] he.
He who despises his neighbor sins ·errs (the standard goal)·, but blessed is he who has mercy on the poor.
22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth [shall be] to them that devise good.
Don’t they go astray who plot evil? But chesed ·loving-kindness· and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
23 In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.
In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips 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 riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.
25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful [witness] speaketh lies.
A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the LORD [is] strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
In the fear of Adonai is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.
27 The fear of the LORD [is] a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
The fear of Adonai is a fountain of life, turning people 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.
In the multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 [He that is] slow to wrath [is] of great understanding: but [he that is] hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
30 A sound heart [is] the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.
31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoreth him hath mercy on the poor.
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who honors him shows mercy to the needy.
32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but in death, the upright has a refuge.
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 one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.
34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin [is] a reproach to any people.
Righteousness exalts a nation, but habitual sin ·missing the mark· is a chesed ·disgrace· to any people.
35 The king's favor [is] towards a wise servant: but his wrath is [against] him that causeth shame.
The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
