Proverbs 14
1 Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs [hers] down with her hands.
Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2 He that walks uprightly fears the Lord; but he that is perverse in his ways shall be dishonoured.
He who walks in his uprightness fears YHWH, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
3 Out of the mouth of fools [comes] a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise 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 cribs are clean; but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.
A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.
6 Thou shalt seek wisdom with bad men, and shalt not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.
A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn't find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
7 All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
Stay away from a foolish man, for you won't find knowledge on his lips.
8 The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.
The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 The houses of transgressors will need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will.
10 [If] a man's mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no fellowship with pride.
The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.
11 The houses of ungodly men shall be utterly destroyed; but the tabernacles of them that walk uprightly shall stand.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way which seems to be right with men, but the ends of it reach to the depths of hell. (questioned)
There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
13 Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.
14 A stout-hearted [man] shall be filled with his own ways; and a good man with his own thoughts.
The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
15 The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes himself to after-thought.
A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
16 A wise man fears, and departs from evil; but the fool trusts in himself, and joins himself with the transgressor.
A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but the fool is arrogant and reckless.
17 A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated.
18 Fools shall have mischief for their portion; but the prudent shall take fast hold of understanding.
The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 Evil men shall fall before the good; and the ungodly shall attend at the gates of the righteous.
The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 Friends will hate poor friends; but the friends of the rich are many.
The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.
21 He that dishonours the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
22 They that go astray devise evils: but the good devise mercy and truth. The framers of evil do not understand mercy and truth: but compassion and faithfulness are with the framers of good.
Do they not go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
23 With every one [who is] careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in want.
In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
24 A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of fools is evil.
The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.
25 A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful [man] kindles falsehoods.
A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
In the fear of YHWH is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.
27 The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes [men] to turn aside from the snare of death.
The fear of YHWH is a fountain of life, turning people from the snares of death.
28 In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince.
In the multitude of people is the king's glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish.
He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
30 A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones.
The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.
31 He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honours him has pity upon the poor.
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
32 The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just.
The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but the righteous has a refuge in his death.
33 There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned.
Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behaviour he removes disgrace.
The king's favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
