Proverbs 14

1 Every wise [having good judgment, discernment] woman [wife, female person] builds [establishes, constructs] her house [dwelling place, family], but a foolish [silly, ridiculous] one [lacking wisdom] tears [overthrows, destroys] it down with her own [personal, individual] hands [power, strength]. word study 2 He who walks [goes, travels] in uprightness [morally straight, righteous living] fears [reveres, has awe for] the LORD [Yehovah, the Almighty God], but the one who is devious [perverse, twisted] in his ways [path, manner of life] despises [holds in contempt, disregards] Him. word study 3 The proud [arrogant, haughty] speech [words, language] of a fool [stupid person, one who despises wisdom] brings a rod [branch] to his back, but the lips [edge, border of something, language] of the wise [intelligent, skilled, prudent] protect [keep, preserve, watch over] them. word study 4 Where there are no [absent, none] oxen [cattle, livestock], the manger [crib, feeding trough] is empty [clean, pure], but an abundant [great, plentiful] harvest [produce, crop] comes through the strength [power, might] of the ox [bull, cattle]. word study 5 An honest [faithful, trustworthy] witness [testifier, one who gives testimony] does not [will not] deceive [lie, utter falsehoods], but a dishonest [false, deceitful] witness [one who gives false testimony] pours forth [breathes out, utters] lies [deception, falsehood]. word study 6 A mocker [scoffer, one who scorns wisdom] seeks [to search for, to look for] wisdom [skill, prudence, or good judgment] and finds [discovers, obtains] none [nothing, no wisdom], but knowledge [understanding, discernment] comes easily [is easy to obtain, is readily available] to the discerning [one who understands, has insight]. word study 7 Stay away [depart, go from the presence] from a foolish [stupid, silly] man [individual, person]; you will gain [perceive, ascertain] no knowledge [understanding, wisdom] from his speech [lips, language, words of wisdom]. word study 8 The wisdom [prudence, good judgment] of the prudent [cunning, discreet] is to discern [understand, know] his way [path, manner of life], but the folly [foolishness, silliness] of fools [stupid, silly people] deceives [leads astray, cheats] them. word study 9 Fools [stupid people, those who despise wisdom] mock [laugh at, scorn] the making of amends [atonement for sins, guilt offering], but goodwill [favor, acceptance] is found among the upright [righteous, just, those who do what is right]. word study 10 The heart [mind, soul, or inner being] knows its own bitterness [sorrow, grief, or trouble], and no stranger [outsider, foreigner, or one unrelated] shares in its joy [happiness, gladness, or celebration]. word study 11 The house [dwelling place, family home] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] will be destroyed [overthrown, annihilated], but the tent [tabernacle, nomad’s home] of the upright [straight, just, righteous] will flourish [sprout, bloom, prosper]. word study 12 There is a way [seemingly straight, appearing right] that seems right [just, convenient] to a man [a male person, an individual], but its end [final outcome, last part] is the way [road, path, manner of life] of death [natural or violent, eternal separation]. word study 13 Even [also, too] in laughter [mockery, scorn] the heart [feeling, will, and intellect] may ache [pain, grieve], and joy [gladness, celebration] may end [come to a close, result in] in sorrow [grief, heaviness, affliction]. word study 14 The backslider [one who turns away, apostate] in heart [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] receives [is filled with, satisfied by] the fill [full measure, reward] of his own ways [path, manner of life], but a good [pleasant, beneficial] man [individual, person] is rewarded [satisfied, filled] for his ways [actions, conduct]. word study 15 The simple [naive, easily influenced] man believes [has faith in, trusts] every [all, each] word, but the prudent [wise, discerning] man watches [looks well to, considers] his steps [going, movements, progress]. word study 16 A wise [intelligent, skilled, prudent] man fears [is afraid, has reverence] and turns [to depart, remove himself] from evil [bad, morally wrong], but a fool [stupid, silly, rejecting God] is careless [hot headed, confidently reckless] and [passes over, crosses into trouble] reckless [without thought, acting too quickly]. word study 17 A quick-tempered [short-tempered, hastie to anger] man acts [deals, does] foolishly [in folly, with silliness], and a devious [crafty, with wicked devices] man [individual, person] is hated [intensely disliked, with hostility]. word study 18 The simple [easily influenced, naive] inherit [take possession of, are given] folly [foolishness, silliness], but the prudent [wise, cunning] are crowned [surrounded, enclosed] with knowledge [understanding, wisdom]. word study 19 The evil [morally bad, wicked] bow [to bow down, humble themselves] before the good [pleasant, beneficial], and the wicked [guilty of sin] at the gates [city entrances, points of access] of the righteous [just, upright, having God’s nature]. word study 20 The poor man [destitute, lacking material possessions] is hated [intensely disliked, felt hostile towards] even by his neighbor [close companion, fellow], but many [a large number, numerous] are those who love [have affection for, are devoted to] the rich [wealthy, noble in status]. word study 21 He who [utterly disregards] despises his neighbor [close friend, companion] sins [misses the mark, goes wrong], but blessed [truly happy, fortunate] is he who [has mercy] shows kindness to the [afflicted, humble] poor [weak, needy]. word study 22 Do not [certainly not, will not] those who contrive [devise, plan] evil [bad, wickedness] go astray [err, wander]? But those who plan [design, think on] goodness [good things, what is pleasant] find [receive, experience] loving devotion [kindness, mercy] and faithfulness [truth, stability]. word study 23 There is profit [abundance, advantage] in all [every kind of] labor [toil, hard work], but mere talk [idle words, empty speech] leads only to poverty [need, lack, want]. word study 24 The crown of the wise [intelligent, skilled, and prudent] is their wealth [riches, abundance, and treasures], but the effort [labor, toil, and reward] of fools [stupid, silly, and rejecting God] is folly [foolishness, silliness, and ridiculous behavior]. word study 25 A truthful [faithful, true] witness [one who testifies, gives testimony] saves [rescues, delivers] lives [souls, living beings], but one who utters [speaks, breathes out] lies [falsehoods, deceit] is [practices, characterized by] deceitful. word study 26 He who fears [reveres, has respect for] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is secure [strong, confident] in confidence [trust, assurance], and his children [sons, descendants] shall have a place [safe haven, shelter] of refuge [protection, safety]. word study 27 The fear [reverence, respect, awe] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is a fountain [source of life, wellspring] of life [physical and spiritual existence], turning [to turn aside, depart] a man from the snares [traps, devices to catch] of death [natural or violent, physical or spiritual]. word study 28 A large [multitude, abundance] population [of people, nation] is a king’s [royal, sovereign] splendor [glory, honor, adornment], but a lack [want, small number] of subjects [people, community] is a prince’s [noble, high-ranking leader] ruin [destruction, terror, devastation]. word study 29 A patient [slow to wrath, longsuffering] man has great [abundant, profound] understanding [insight, wisdom, discretion], but a quick-tempered [hasty of spirit, short-fused] man promotes [exalts, glorifies] folly [foolishness, silliness]. word study 30 A tranquil [peaceful, healed] heart [the feelings, the will, the mind] is life [physical and spiritual vitality] to the body [flesh, the physical person], but envy [strong feelings of jealousy] rots [causes rottenness, decay] the bones [the substance or essence of something]. word study 31 Whoever [reproaches] oppresses the poor [needy, weak] taunts [insults, defames] their Maker [Creator, the one who made them], but whoever is kind [shows mercy, is gracious] to the needy [poor, oppressed] honors [glorifies, shows respect to] Him. word study 32 The wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] man is thrown down [driven away, thrust] by his own sin [evil actions, moral harm], but the righteous [just, made right with God] man has a refuge [safe place, trust] even in death [the end of life, mortal demise]. word study 33 Wisdom [skill, prudence, or good judgment] rests [to settle down and remain, to abide] in the heart [the mind, feelings, and will] of the discerning [those who understand, have insight]; even among fools [stupid and silly people, those who reject God] she is known [made aware, perceived, learned]. word study 34 Righteousness [justice, virtue, and morality] exalts [lifts up, elevates] a nation [a community of people], but sin [guilt, rebellion against God] is a disgrace [a shame, a reproach] to any people [a large group, a community]. word study 35 A king [ruler, sovereign] delights [has pleasure, takes joy] in a wise [prudent, discerning] servant [attendant, minister], but his anger [fury, wrath] falls [is directed, comes upon] on the shameful [one who causes shame, disgraces others]. word study