Proverbs 14

1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.

Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.

3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall 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 crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness uttereth lies.

A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.

6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not: but knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.

A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn't find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.

7 Go into the presence of a foolish man, and thou shalt not perceive [in him] the lips of knowledge.

Stay away from a foolish man, for you won't find knowledge on his lips.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.

9 The foolish make a mock at guilt: but among the upright there is good will.

Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will.

10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.

The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.

11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tent of the upright shall flourish.

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

12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of mirth is heaviness.

Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.

14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.

The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.

15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.

16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.

A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but the fool is arrogant and reckless.

17 He that is soon angry will deal foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated.

18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.

21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.

He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.

22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth [shall be to] them that devise good.

Do they not go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.

23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.

In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches: [but] the folly of fools is [only] folly.

The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.

25 A true witness delivereth souls: but he that uttereth lies [causeth] deceit.

A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.

26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

In the fear of the LORD is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.

27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning people from the snares of death.

28 In the multitude of people is the king’s glory: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

In the multitude of people is the king's glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.

29 He that is slow to anger is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.

30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy is the rottenness of the bones.

The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.

31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that hath mercy on the needy honoureth him.

He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.

32 The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but the righteous has a refuge in his death.

33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but [that which is] in the inward part of fools is made known.

Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.

34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

35 The king’s favour is toward a servant that dealeth wisely: but his wrath shall be [against] him that causeth shame.

The king's favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.