Proverbs 14
Wisdom builds herself a house;
with herown hands Folly pulls it down.
He whose course is honest fears Yahweh,
he whose paths are crooked scrons him.
The fool's mouth contains a rod of pride,
the wise man's lips watch over him.
No oxen, no cattle-feed;
stout ox, rich crop.
The truthful witness tells no lies,
the false witness lies with every breath.
In vain the mocker looks for wisdom,
knowledge comes easy to the discerning man.
Keep well clear of the fool,
you will not find wise lips there.
To the man of discretion, wisdom means a watch on his own condut,
but the folly of fools is delusion.
God mocks the wicked,
he shows favour to honest men.
The heart knows its own grief best,
nor can a stranger share it's joy.
The house of the wicked shall be destroyed,
the tent of the honest men will stand firm.
There is a way that some think right,
but it leads in the end to death.
Even in laughter the heart is satisfied with its own ways,
the good man with his own hard work.
The simpleton believes what he is told,
the man of discretion watches how he treads.
The wise man sees evil coming and avoids it,
the fool is rash and presumptuous.
A quick-tempered man commits rash acts,
the prudent man will be long-suffering.
Simpletons have foly for their portion,
men of discretion knowledge for their crown.
The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked, at the gates of the virtuous.
The poor man is detestable even to his neighbor,
but the rich man has friends and to spare.
He who looks down on his neighbor sins,
blessed is he who takes pity on the poor.
To be a schemer, is this not evil?
Lay worthy plans, and kindliness and loyalty await you.
Hard work always yields its profit,
idle talk brings only want.
Sound judgement is the crown of the wise,
folly the diadem of fools.
A truthful witness is a saver of lives,
he who utters lies is an imposter.
Fear of Yahweh gives good grounds for confidence,
in him his children find refuge.
The fear of Yahweh is a life-giving spring,
for eluding the snares of death.
A king's majesty shows in the numbers of his people,
with few to rule, a prince is ruined.
The equable man is full of discernment,
the hasty is more than foolish.
The life of the body is a tranquil heart,
but envy is a cancer in the bones.
To oppress the poor is to insult his creator,
to be kind to the needy is to honour him.
The wicked man is overthrown by his own malice,
the virtuous finds shelter in his integrity.
In the hearts of the discerning men wisdom makes her home,
within the fool she has no place at all.
Virtue makes a nation great,
by sin whole races are disgraced.
A clever servent enjoys the favour of the king,
he uses his shrewdnes to avoid disgrace.