Proverbs 14
1 The wise among women buildeth her house; but the foolish pulleth it down with her own hands.
Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs [hers] down with her hands.
2 In his uprightness walketh he that feareth the Lord; but perverse in his ways is he that despiseth him.
He that walks uprightly fears the Lord; but he that is perverse in his ways shall be dishonored.
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a stick [for his] pride; but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
Out of the mouth of fools [comes] a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, is the crib clean; but the abundance of harvests is [only] through the strength of the ox.
Where no oxen are, the cribs are clean; but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.
5 A faithful witness will not lie; but a false witness constantly uttereth lies.
A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.
6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none; but knowledge is easy to the man of understanding.
You shall seek wisdom with bad men, and shall not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.
7 Go far away from a foolish man, else thou wilt [never] know the lips of knowledge.
All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; but the folly of fools is deceit.
The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.
9 The fool maketh a mockery of guilt; but among the upright there is good will.
The houses of transgressors will need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and with its joy can no stranger intermeddle.
[If] a man's mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no fellowship with pride.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed: but the tent of the upright will flourish.
The houses of ungodly men shall be utterly destroyed; but the tabernacles of them that walk uprightly shall stand.
12 There is many a way which seemeth even before a man; but its end are ways unto death.
There is a way which seems to be right with men, but the ends of it reach to the depths of hell. (questioned)
13 Even in laughter the heart feeleth pain; and at its end joy is sorrow.
Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
14 The backslider in heart will have enough of his own ways; and from him [departeth] the good men.
A stout-hearted [man] shall be filled with his own ways; and a good man with his own thoughts.
15 The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man understandeth his steps.
The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes himself to afterthought.
16 A wise man is fearful, and departeth from evil; but the fool exciteth himself, and is confident.
A wise man fears, and departs from evil; but the fool trusts in himself, and joins himself with the transgressor.
17 He that is soon angry committeth folly; and a man of wicked devices is hated.
A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
18 The simple inherit folly; but the prudent crown themselves with knowledge.
Fools shall have mischief for their portion; but the prudent shall take fast hold of understanding.
19 The bad sink down before the good; and the wicked are at the gates of the righteous.
Evil men shall fall before the good; and the ungodly shall attend at the gates of the righteous.
20 Even to his own neighbor is the poor man hateful; but the friends of the rich are many.
Friends will hate poor friends; but the friends of the rich are many.
21 He that despiseth his neighbor is a sinner; but he that is gracious to the poor—happiness attend him!
He that dishonors the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
22 Behold, those who contrive evil are in error; but kindness and truth attend on those who contrive what is good.
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.
23 In all painful labor there is profit; but mere words of the lips [lead] only to want.
With every one [who is] careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in lack.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches; but the folly of fools is [only] folly.
A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of fools is evil.
25 A deliverer of souls is the true witness; but a witness of deceit uttereth lies.
A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful [man] kindles falsehoods.
26 In the fear of the Lord is the strong confidence [of man], and unto his children will it be a place of shelter.
In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
27 The fear of the Lord is the source of life, [teaching] to avoid the snares of death.
The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes [men] to turn aside from the snare of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the king's glory; but in the want of a population is the downfall of the prince.
In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince.
29 He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit holdeth up [to view] his folly.
A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish.
30 A sound heart is the life of the body; but jealousy is the rottenness of the bones.
A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones.
31 He that oppresseth the poor blasphemeth his Maker; but he that is gracious to the needy honoreth him.
He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honors him has pity upon the poor.
32 Through his own evil is the wicked thrust down; but even in his death doth the righteous have confidence.
The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just.
33 In the heart of the man of understanding resteth wisdom: but [the little which is] in the bosom of fools is made known.
There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned.
34 Righteousness exalteth a people; but the disgrace of nations is sin.
Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
35 The king's favor is bestowed on an intelligent servant; but his wrath is against him that deserveth shame.
An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behavior he removes disgrace.
