Proverbs 14:1-21

¹A wise woman buildeth her house; and an unwise woman shall destroy with hands, that is, with her evil works, an house builded. (A wise woman buildeth up her own house; but an unwise woman shall destroy with her own hands, that is, with her own evil works, the house that she hath built.)

²A man going in rightful way, and dreading God, is despised of him that goeth in the way of evil fame. (A person who doeth right, and feareth God or and revereth God, is despised by him who goeth in evil ways.)

³The rod of pride is in the mouth of a fool; the lips of wise men keep them (or but the lips of the wise keep them safe).

⁴Where oxen be not, the cratch is void (or the stall is empty); but where full many corns appear, there the strength of the ox is made open.

⁵A faithful witness shall not lie; a guileful witness bringeth forth a leasing (or a deceitful witness bringeth forth many lies).

⁶A scorner seeketh wisdom, and he findeth it not, (or A mocker seeketh wisdom, but never findeth it); the teaching of prudent men is easy.

⁷Go thou against a man a fool; and he shall not know the lips of prudence. (Go thou away from a foolish person; for he shall not speak words of understanding, that is, sensible words.)

⁸The wisdom of a fell man is to understand his way; and the unwariness of fools erreth. (The wisdom of a clever person is to understand his own way; but the carelessness of fools maketh them to err.)

⁹A fool scorneth sin; grace shall dwell among just men. (A fool mocketh sin; favour shall dwell among the righteous.)

¹⁰The heart that knoweth the bitterness of his soul; a stranger shall not be meddled in the joy thereof. (The heart knoweth the bitterness of its own soul; a stranger cannot be mixed in, or mingled, with its joy.)

¹¹The house of wicked men shall be done away; the tabernacles of just men shall burgeon. (The houses of the wicked shall be done away; but the homes of the righteous shall flourish.)

¹²Soothly a way is, that seemeth just to a man, (or Truly there is a way, that seemeth right to a person); but the last things thereof lead forth to death.

¹³Laughing shall be meddled with sorrow (or Laughter shall be mixed, or mingled, with sorrow); and mourning occupieth the last things of joy.

¹⁴A fool shall be filled with his ways; and a good man shall be above him. (A fool shall reap the fruit of his foolish ways; and a good person that of his deeds, or of his labour.)

¹⁵An innocent man believeth to each word; a fell man beholdeth his goings. (An innocent person believeth each and every word; a clever person regardeth, or watcheth, his own steps.)

¹⁶A wise man dreadeth, and boweth away from evil; a fool skippeth over, and trusteth.

¹⁷A man unpatient shall work folly; and a guileful man is odious. (An impatient person will act foolishly; and a deceitful person is odious.)

¹⁸Little men of wit shall hold folly; and fell men shall abide knowing. (People of little wit, or of low intelligence, shall hold fast to foolishness; but clever people shall gain understanding.)

¹⁹Evil men shall lie (down) before good men; and unpious men before the gates of just men. (Evil people shall lie down before good people; and the wicked shall bow before the gates of the righteous.)

²⁰A poor man shall be (thought) hateful, yea, (even) to his neighbour; but many men be (the) friends of rich men.

²¹He that despiseth his neighbour, doeth sin; but he that doeth mercy to a poor man, shall be blessed.