Proverbs 14
1 Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
Every wise woman builds her house, but the stupid woman tears it down with her own hands.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears Yahweh, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
Those who live right respect the Lord, but those who live dishonestly despise him.
3 The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
What stupid people say punishes their pride, but what wise people say will protect them.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
Without oxen, the manger is empty, but a good harvest comes through the ox's strength.
5 A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.
A trustworthy witness doesn't lie, but a false witness is deceptive.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
It's pointless for a scoffer to look for wisdom, but knowledge comes easily to someone who understands.
7 Stay away from a foolish man, for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.
Stay away from stupid people—you won't learn anything from them.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
Sensible people use their wisdom to decide where they're going, but the foolishness of stupid people is treacherous.
9 Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will.
Stupid people laugh at sin, but good people want forgiveness.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.
The individual's mind alone knows its sadnesses, and no one else can share its happiness.
11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
The house of wicked people will be destroyed, but the tent of good people will prosper.
12 There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
There's a way that seems to be right, but in the end it's the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.
Even when you're laughing you can be feeling sad—joy can end in grief.
14 The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
Disloyal people are repaid for what they do, and good people are rewarded.
15 A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
Stupid people believe whatever they're told, but sensible people think about what they're doing.
16 A wise man fears and shuns evil, but the fool is hot headed and reckless.
Wise people are careful and avoid evil, but stupid people are confidently reckless.
17 He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated.
Quick-tempered people act foolishly, while people who make evil plans are hated.
18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
The inheritance of stupid people is stupidity, but sensible people are rewarded with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
Evil people bow down before good people, and the wicked bow down at the doors of those who do right.
20 The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.
The poor are hated even by their neighbors, while the rich have many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.
People who look down on their neighbors are sinners, but those who are kind to the poor are blessed.
22 Don’t they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
Aren't people who plan to do evil wrong? But those who plan to do good have trustworthy love and faithfulness.
23 In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
There's profit in hard work, but chatting just leads to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.
The wise are rewarded with wealth, but stupid people are rewarded with stupidity.
25 A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.
A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is treacherous.
26 In the fear of Yahweh is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.
People who honor the Lord are completely safe; he will protect their children.
27 The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life, turning people from the snares of death.
Respecting the Lord is like a fountain of life, so you can avoid the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
The glory of a king is the number of his subjects, for a ruler is nothing without them.
29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
If you're slow to get angry, you're very wise; but if you have a short fuse you glorify stupidity.
30 The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.
A peaceful mind makes your body healthy, but jealousy makes your bones rot.
31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
Anyone who oppresses the poor insults their Maker, but anyone who is kind to the needy honors him.
32 The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but in death, the righteous has a refuge.
Wicked people are brought down by their own evil actions, but those who live right are confident even in death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.
Wisdom is at home in a mind that understands, but it's not found among stupid people.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
Doing right makes a nation successful, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
A servant who acts wisely is appreciated by the king, but he gets angry with a servant who acts disgracefully.
