Proverbs 14

1 Every, wise woman, buildeth up her house, but, a foolish one, with her own hands, would break it down.

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

2 He that walketh in his uprightness, is one who revereth Yahweh, but, he that is crooked in his way, is one who 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 haughty rod, but, as for the lips of the wise, thou shalt give heed to them!

The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.

4 Without cattle, the crib is clean, but, much increase, is in 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 deceive, but a false witness, uttereth deceitful things.

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

6 A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and there is none, but, knowledge, to the discerning, is easy.

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

7 Get thee from the presence of a man that is a dullard, when thou perceivest not 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 dullards, is a fraud.

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

9 the foolish, scoff at guilt, but, between the upright, is good pleasure.

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

10 The heart, knoweth its own bitterness, and, in its joy, no stranger shareth.

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

11 The house of the lawless, shall be destroyed, but, the tent of the upright, shall flourish.

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

12 There is a way that enticeth a man, but, at the latter 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 may be in pain, and, the latter end of gladness, be grief.

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

14 With his own ways, shall be filled the backslider in heart, and, from himself, shall a good man [be satisfied].

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, looketh well to his going.

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

16 A wise man, feareth, and avoideth evil, but, a dullard, is haughty and confident.

A wise man fears and shuns evil, but the fool is hot headed and reckless.

17 The impatient, worketh folly, 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 shrewd, crowneth himself with knowledge.

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

19 Abased are the wicked, before the good, and, the lawless, at the gates of the righteous.

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

20 Even by his neighbour, is a poor man hated, but, the lovers of the rich man, are many.

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

21 He that sheweth contempt for his neighbour, sinneth, but, he that sheweth favour to the afflicted, how happy is he!

He who despises his neighbour sins, but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.

22 Shall they not, become vagrants, who devise evil? but, lovingkindness and faithfulness, [be to] them who devise good.

Don’t they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.

23 By all labour, there will be abundance, but, the talk of the lips, tendeth only to want.

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 wealth, but, the folly of dullards, is, folly.

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

25 A deliverer of souls, is a faithful witness, but, he that uttereth falsehoods, is a fraud.

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

26 In the reverence of Yahweh, is strong security, 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 reverence of Yahweh, is a well-spring of life, that a man may avoid 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 a people, is the majesty of the king, but, in the ceasing of population, is the ruin 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 One slow to anger, hath great understanding, but, the hasty in spirit, exalteth folly.

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

30 The life of the whole body, is a tranquil mind, but, a decay of the bones, is jealousy.

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

31 The oppressor of the poor, hath reproached his Maker, but he that sheweth favour to the needy, is one who, holdeth Him in honour.

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

32 By his own wickedness, shall the lawless man, be thrust down, but the righteous, seeketh refuge in his integrity.

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

33 In the heart of the intelligent, reposeth wisdom, but, in the midst of dullards, it maketh itself 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, a reproach to any people, is sin.

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

35 The good-pleasure of a king, is due to a servant who is discreet, but, his indignation, shall be against him that bringeth shame.

The king’s favour is towards a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is towards one who causes shame.