Proverbs, 14

1. Wisdom builds herself a house; with her own hands Folly pulls it down.

1. Wisdom builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.

2. Whoever keeps to an honest course fears Yahweh, whoever deserts his paths shows contempt for him.

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

3. Pride sprouts in the mouth of the fool, the lips of the wise keep them safe.

3. The talk of a fool is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

4. No oxen, empty manger; strong bull, much cash.

4. Where there are no oxen, there is no grain; but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

5. The truthful witness tells no lies, the false witness lies with every breath.

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

6. In vain the mocker looks for wisdom, knowledge comes easy to the intelligent.

6. A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

7. Keep well clear of the fool, you will not find wise lips there.

7. Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

8. With people of discretion, wisdom keeps a watch over their conduct, but the folly of fools leads them astray.

8. The wisdom of a prudent man is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.

9. Fools mock at the sacrifice for sin, but favour resides among the honest.

9. God scorns the wicked, but the upright enjoy his favor.

10. The heart knows its own grief best, nor can a stranger share its joy.

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

11. The house of the wicked will be destroyed, the tent of the honest will prosper.

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

12. There are ways that some think straight, but they lead in the end to death.

12. There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

13. Even in laughter the heart finds sadness, and joy makes way for sorrow.

13. Even in laughter the heart is sad, and the end of joy is grief.

14. The miscreant will reap the reward of his conduct, and the good the reward of his deeds.

14. A perverse man will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man with the fruit of his deeds.

15. The simpleton believes any message, a person of discretion treads a careful path.

15. The simple believes everything, but the prudent looks where he is going.

16. The wise fears evil and avoids it, the fool is insolent and conceited.

16. A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is careless.

17. A quick-tempered person commits rash acts, but a schemer is detestable.

17. A man of quick temper acts foolishly, but a man of discretion is patient.

18. Simpletons have folly for their portion, people of discretion knowledge for their crown.

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

19. The evil bow down before the good, the wicked, at the gates of the upright.

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

20. The poor is detestable even to a friend, but many are they who love someone rich.

20. The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.

21. One who despises the needy is at fault, one who takes pity on the poor is blessed.

21. He who despises his neighbor is a sinner, but happy is he who is kind to the poor.

22. Plan evil -- isn't this to go astray? Those who plan for good can earn faithful love and constancy.

22. Do they not err that devise evil? Those who devise good meet loyalty and faithfulness.

23. Hard work always yields its profit, idle talk brings only want.

23. In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to want.

24. The crown of the wise is their riches; the folly of fools is folly.

24. The crown of the wise is their wisdom, but folly is the garland of fools.

25. A truthful witness saves lives, whoever utters lies is a deceiver.

25. A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is a betrayer.

26. In the fear of Yahweh is powerful security; for his children he is a refuge.

26. In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.

27. The fear of Yahweh is a life-giving spring for eluding the snares of death.

27. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.

28. Large population, monarch's glory; dwindling population, ruler's ruin.

28. In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.

29. Mastery of temper is high proof of intelligence, a quick temper makes folly worse than ever.

29. He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

30. The life of the body is a tranquil heart, but envy is a cancer in the bones.

30. A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh, but passion makes the bones rot.

31. To oppress the weak insults the Creator, kindness to the needy honours the Creator.

31. He who oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.

32. For evil-doing, the wicked will be flung headlong, but in integrity the upright will find refuge.

32. The wicked is overthrown through his evil-doing, but the righteous finds refuge through his integrity.

33. Wisdom resides in an understanding heart; she is not to be found in the hearts of fools.

33. Wisdom abides in the mind of a man of understanding, but it is not known in the heart of fools.

34. Uprightness makes a nation great, by sin whole races are disgraced.

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

35. A king shows favour to a wise minister, but anger to one who shames him.

35. A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.