MISHLĔY 14

1 Every wise woman has built her house,
But the foolish breaks it down with her hands.

2 He who walks in his straightness reveres 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄,
But he whose ways are crooked despises Him.

3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
But the lips of the wise guard them.

4 Where there are no oxen, the crib is clean;
But from the strength of an ox comes much increase.

5 A trustworthy witness does not lie,
But a false witness breathes out lies.

6 A scoffer shall seek wisdom but is unable,
But knowledge is swift to him who has understanding.

7 Leave the presence of a foolish man,
For you shall not perceive the lips of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the clever is to understand His Way,
But the folly of fools is deceit.

9 Fools scoff at guilt,
But among the straight there is delight.

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

11 The house of the wicked is destroyed,
But the tent of the straight flourishes.

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

13 Even in laughter the heart is in pain,
And the end of that joy is heaviness.

14 The backslider in heart is satisfied with his own ways,
But a good man, from above.

15 The simple believes every word,
But the clever one watches his step.

16 The wise fears and turns away from evil,
But a fool rushes on and is reckless.

17 He who is impatient acts foolishly,
And a man who plans wickedness is hated.

18 The simple shall inherit folly,
But the clever are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil ones shall bow before the good,
And the wicked ones at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor is hated even by his own neighbour,
But the rich has many friends.

21 He who despises his neighbour sins;
But he who shows favour to the poor, O baruḵ is he.

22 Do not those who plan evil go astray?
But kindness and truth are to those who plan good.

23 In all labour there is profit,
But talk of the lips, only to poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
The folly of fools is folly.

25 A true witness saves lives,
But he who breathes out lies is a betrayer.

26 In the reverence of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 is strong trust,
And His children have a place of refuge.

27 The reverence of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 is a fountain of ḥai,
To turn away from the snares of death.

28 In a multitude of people
Is a sovereign’s splendour,
But in the lack of people
Is the ruin of a prince.

29 He who is patient has great understanding,
But he who is short of spirit exalts folly.

30 A healthy heart is life to the body,
But envy is rottenness to the bones.

31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
But he who esteems Him shows favour to the needy.

32 By his own evildoing the wicked is thrust down,
But the righteous has a refuge in his death.

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
And among fools it becomes known.

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a reproach to peoples.

35 The sovereign’s delight is toward a wise servant,
But his wrath is towards him who causes shame.