Proverbs 14

1 A wise woman builds up her household. But a foolish one will pull down with her own hands what has been built up.

The wise woman builds her house, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.

2 One who walks on a virtuous journey, and who fears God, is despised by him who advances along a disreputable way.

The one who walks uprightly fears Yahweh, but the one who is dishonest in his ways despises him.

3 In the mouth of the foolish, there is a rod of arrogance. But the lips of the wise guard them.

From the mouth of a fool comes an offshoot of his pride, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

4 Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty. But where there are many crops, there the strength of the ox is manifest.

Where there are no cattle the feeding trough is clean, but an abundant crop can come by the strength of an ox.

5 A faithful witness will not lie. But a deceitful witness offers a lie.

A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.

6 A mocker seeks wisdom and does not find it. The doctrine of the prudent is accessible.

A mocker seeks wisdom and there is none, but knowledge comes easy to the one who is discerning.

7 Go against a foolish man, and he does not acknowledge lips of prudence.

Walk away from a foolish person, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.

8 The wisdom of a discerning man is to understand his way. And the imprudence of the foolish is to be wandering astray.

The wisdom of the prudent person is to understand his own way, but the folly of fools is deception.

9 The foolish will speak mockingly of sin. But grace lingers among the just.

Fools mock when the guilt offering is sacrificed, but among the upright favor is shared.

10 The heart that knows the bitterness of its own soul, in its gladness the outsider shall not meddle.

The heart knows its own bitterness and no stranger shares its joy.

11 The house of the impious will be wiped away. Yet truly, the tabernacles of the just shall spring forth.

The house of wicked people will be destroyed, but the tent of upright people will flourish.

12 There is a way which seems just to a man, but its conclusion leads to death.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end only leads to death.

13 Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning occupies the limits of joy.

A heart can laugh but still be in pain and joy may end up being grief.

14 The foolish will be filled up by his own ways. And the good man shall be above him.

The one who is not faithful will get what his ways deserve, but a good person will get what is his.

15 The innocent trust every word. The astute one considers his own steps. Nothing good will be for the deceitful son. But the wise servant shall act prosperously and his way will be set in order.

The one who is naive believes everything, but the prudent man thinks about his steps.

16 The wise fear, and so turn away from evil. The foolish leap ahead with confidence.

A wise man fears and turns away from evil, but the fool confidently dismisses a warning.

17 The impatient will work foolishness. And a resourceful man is hated.

One who is quick to become angry does foolish things, and a person who makes evil schemes is hated.

18 The childish will possess foolishness, and the discerning will anticipate knowledge.

The naive inherit foolishness, but prudent people are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil will fall down before the good. And the impious will fall down before the gates of the just.

Evil people will bow down before those who are good and those who are wicked will bow down at the gates of the righteous person.

20 The pauper will be hated, even by his own neighbor. Yet truly, the friends of the wealthy are many.

The poor person is hated even by his own companions, but the rich people have many friends.

21 Whoever despises his neighbor, sins. But whoever pities the poor shall be blessed. Whoever trusts in the Lord loves mercy.

The one who shows contempt for his neighbor is sinning, but the one who shows favor to the poor is blessed.

22 They wander astray who work evil. But mercy and truth prepare good things.

Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan to do good will receive covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness.

23 In every work, there shall be abundance. But where there are many words, there is often need.

With all hard work comes a profit, but when there is only talk, it leads to poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their wealth. The senselessness of the foolish is imprudence.

The crown of wise people is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings them only more folly.

25 A faithful witness frees souls. And the chameleon utters lies.

A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness breathes out lies.

26 In the fear of the Lord is the faithfulness of strength, and there shall be hope for his sons.

When someone fears Yahweh, he also has much confidence in him; these things will be like a strong place of protection for this man's children.

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, so as to turn aside from the ruin of death.

The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life, so that a person may turn away from the snares of death.

28 In a multitude of people, there is dignity for the king. And in a paucity of people, there is disgrace for the prince.

The glory of a king is found in the great number of his people, but without people the prince is ruined.

29 Whoever is patient is governed by much prudence. But whoever is impatient exalts his foolishness.

A patient person has great understanding, but the quick-tempered person exalts folly.

30 The well-being of the heart is life for the flesh. But envy is decay for the bones.

A tranquil heart is life for the body, but envy rots the bones.

31 Whoever slanders the indigent argues against his Maker. But he who has compassion on the poor honors his Maker.

The one who oppresses the poor curses his Maker, but the one who shows favor to the needy honors him.

32 The impious will be expelled in his malice. But the just finds hope even in his own death.

The wicked person is brought down by his evil actions, but the righteous person has a refuge even in death.

33 In the heart of the prudent, wisdom finds rest. And so shall he instruct all the uneducated.

Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning, but even among fools she lets herself be known.

34 Justice elevates a nation. But sin makes the peoples miserable.

Doing what is right exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

35 An intelligent minister is acceptable to the king. Whoever is useless shall bear his wrath.

The favor of the king is with the servant who acts prudently, but his anger is for the one who acts shamefully.