Proverbs 14 ~ Proverbs 14

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

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

2 H e that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

He who walks in uprightness reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, but he who is contrary and devious in his ways despises Him.

3 I n the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

In the fool’s own mouth is a rod his pride, but the wise men’s lips preserve them.

4 W here no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

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

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

A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness breathes out falsehoods.

6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy to him who understands.

7 G o from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

Go from the presence of a foolish and self-confident man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.

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

The Wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is to deceive.

9 F ools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

Fools make a mock of sin and sin mocks the fools, but among the upright there is the favor of God.

10 T he heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

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

11 T he house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

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

12 T here 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 and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.

13 E ven in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of mirth is heaviness and grief.

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

The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways, and a good man shall be satisfied with his ways.

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

The simpleton believes every word he hears, but the prudent man looks and considers well where he is going.

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

A wise man suspects danger and cautiously avoids evil, but the fool bears himself insolently and is confident.

17 H e that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

He who foams up quickly and flies into a passion deals foolishly, and a man of wicked plots and plans is hated.

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

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

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

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

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

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

21 H e that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

He who despises his neighbor sins, but happy (blessed and fortunate) is he who is kind and merciful to the poor.

22 D o they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

Do they not err who devise evil and wander from the way of life? But loving-kindness and mercy, loyalty and faithfulness, shall be to those who devise good.

23 I n all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

In all labor there is profit, but idle talk leads only to poverty.

24 T he crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

The crown of the wise is their wealth of Wisdom, but the foolishness of fools is folly.

25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

A truthful witness saves lives, but a deceitful witness speaks lies.

26 I n the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

In the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children shall always have a place of refuge.

27 T he fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.

28 I n the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

In a multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in a lack of people is the prince’s ruin.

29 H e that is slow to wrath 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 is hasty of spirit exposes and exalts his folly.

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

A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.

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

He who oppresses the poor reproaches, mocks, and insults his Maker, but he who is kind and merciful to the needy honors Him.

32 T he wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

The wicked is overthrown through his wrongdoing and calamity, but the righteous has hope and confidence even in death.

33 W isdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

Wisdom rests in the mind and heart of him who has understanding, but that which is in the inward part of fools is made known.

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

Uprightness and right standing with God (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

35 T he king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

The king’s favor is toward a wise and discreet servant, but his wrath is against him who does shamefully.