Sprueche 14
1 Durch weise Weiber wird das Haus erbauet; eine Närrin aber zerbricht es mit ihrem Tun.
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 Wer den HERRN fürchtet, der gehet auf rechter Bahn; wer ihn aber verachtet, der weicht aus seinem Wege.
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 Narren reden tyrannisch; aber die Weisen bewahren ihren Mund.
Foolish people will be punished [MTY] for what they say, but wise [people] will be protected by what they say [MTY].
4 Wo nicht Ochsen sind, da ist die Krippe rein; aber wo der Ochse geschäftig ist, da ist viel Einkommens.
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 Ein treuer Zeuge lüget nicht; aber ein falscher Zeuge redet türstiglich Lügen.
Witnesses who are reliable [always] say what (is true/really happened), but witnesses who are not reliable constantly tell lies [about what happened].
6 Der Spötter suchet Weisheit und findet sie nicht; aber dem Verständigen ist die Erkenntnis leicht.
Those who make fun [of being wise] will never become wise, but those who understand [what is right] learn things easily.
7 Gehe von dem Narren; denn du lernest nichts von ihm.
Stay away from foolish people, because they will not be able to teach you anything [useful].
8 Das ist des Klugen Weisheit, daß er auf seinen Weg merkt; aber das ist der Narren Torheit, daß es eitel Trug mit ihnen ist.
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 Die Narren treiben das Gespött mit der Sünde; aber die Frommen haben Lust an den Frommen.
Foolish people make fun of their committing sins; but God is pleased with those who do what is right.
10 Wenn das Herz traurig ist, so hilft keine äußerliche Freude.
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 Das Haus der Gottlosen wird vertilget; aber die Hütte der Frommen wird grünen.
Houses built by wicked [people] will be destroyed, but houses built by good/righteous [people] will last for a long time.
12 Es gefällt manchem ein Weg wohl; aber endlich bringt er ihn zum Tode.
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 Nach dem Lachen kommt Trauern, und nach der Freude kommt Leid.
[Sometimes] when people laugh, they are [really] sad, and when they stop laughing, they are still sad.
14 Einem losen Menschen wird's gehen, wie er handelt; aber ein Frommer wird über ihn sein.
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 Ein Alberner glaubt alles; aber ein Witziger merkt auf seinen Gang.
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 Ein Weiser fürchtet sich und meidet das Arge; ein Narr aber fährt hindurch türstiglich.
Wise people are careful and avoid [doing things that will give them] trouble; foolish people are careless and act (too quickly/without thinking).
17 Ein Ungeduldiger tut närrisch; aber ein Bedächtiger hasset es.
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 Die Albernen erben Narrheit; aber es ist der Witzigen Krone, vorsichtiglich handeln.
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 Die Bösen müssen sich bücken vor den Guten und die Gottlosen in den Toren des Gerechten.
[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 Einen Armen hassen auch seine Nächsten; aber die Reichen haben viel Freunde.
[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 Der Sünder verachtet seinen Nächsten; aber wohl dem, der sich der Elenden erbarmet!
It is sinful to despise your [poor] neighbors; [God] is pleased with those who do kind things for the poor.
22 Die mit bösen Ränken umgehen, werden fehlen; die aber Gutes denken, denen wird Treue und Güte widerfahren.
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 Wo man arbeitet, da ist genug; wo man aber mit Worten umgeht, da ist Mangel.
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 Den Weisen ist ihr Reichtum eine Krone; aber die Torheit der Narren bleibt Torheit.
One of the rewards [MET] of being wise is to become rich; the reward of acting foolishly is to become more foolish.
25 Ein treuer Zeuge errettet das Leben; aber ein falscher Zeuge betrügt.
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 Wer den HERRN fürchtet, der hat eine sichere Festung, und seine Kinder werden auch beschirmet.
Those who revere Yahweh are confident [that he will protect them], and their family will [also] be protected.
27 Die Furcht des HERRN ist eine Quelle des Lebens, daß man meide die Stricke des Todes.
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 Wo ein König viel Volks hat, das ist seine HERRLIchkeit; wo aber, wenig Volks ist, das macht einen HERRN blöde.
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 Wer geduldig ist, der ist weise; wer aber ungeduldig ist, der offenbart seine Torheit.
Those who do not quickly become angry are very wise; by quickly becoming angry, people show that they are foolish.
30 Ein gütiges Herz ist des Leibes Leben; aber Neid ist Eiter in Beinen.
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 Wer dem Geringen Gewalt tut, der lästert desselben Schöpfer; aber wer sich des Armen erbarmet, der ehret Gott,
Those who oppress poor people are insulting God, the one who made those poor people, but acting kindly toward them is respecting God.
32 Der Gottlose bestehet nicht in seinem Unglück; aber der Gerechte ist auch in seinem Tode getrost.
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 Im Herzen des Verständigen ruhet Weisheit und wird offenbar unter den Narren.
Those who have good sense always think what is wise; foolish people do not know anything about being wise.
34 Gerechtigkeit erhöhet ein Volk; aber die Sünde ist der Leute Verderben.
[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 Ein kluger Knecht gefällt dem Könige wohl; aber einem schändlichen Knechte ist er feind.
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.
