1 Every wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.
2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah; But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for `his' pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie; But a false witness uttereth lies.
6 A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and `findeth it' not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.
7 Go into the presence of a foolish man, And thou shalt not perceive `in him' the lips of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
9 A trespass-offering mocketh fools; But among the upright there is good will.
10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness; And a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.
11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; But the tent of the upright shall flourish.
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of mirth is heaviness.
14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And a good man `shall be satisfied' from himself.
15 The simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to his going.
16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
17 He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends.
21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.
22 Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth `shall be to' them that devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips `tendeth' only to penury.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches; `But' the folly of fools is `only' folly.
25 A true witness delivereth souls; But he that uttereth lies `causeth' deceit.
26 In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence; And his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the king's glory; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
30 A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh; But envy is the rottenness of the bones.
31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.
32 The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing; But the righteous hath a refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; But `that which is' in the inward part of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people.
35 The king's favor is toward a servant that dealeth wisely; But his wrath will be `against' him that causeth shame.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 14
Commentary on Proverbs 14 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 14
Pr 14:1-35.
1. Every wise, &c.—literally, "The wisdoms" (compare Pr 9:1) "of women," plural, a distributive form of speech.
buildeth … house—increases wealth, which the foolish, by mismanagement, lessen.
2. uprightness—is the fruit of fearing God, as falsehood and ill-nature (Pr 2:15; 3:32) of despising Him and His law.
3. rod of pride—that is, the punishment of pride, which they evince by their words. The words of the wise procure good to them.
4. crib is clean—empty; so "cleanness of teeth" denotes want of food (compare Am 4:6). Men get the proper fruit of their doings (Ga 6:7).
5. A faithful witness, &c.—one tested to be such.
utter lies—or, "breathe out lies"—that is, habitually lies (Pr 6:19; compare Ac 9:1). Or the sense is, that habitual truthfulness, or lying, will be evinced in witness-bearing.
6. An humble, teachable spirit succeeds in seeking (Pr 8:9; Joh 7:17; Jas 1:5, 6).
7. Avoid the society of those who cannot teach you.
8. Appearances deceive the thoughtless, but the prudent discriminate.
9. Fools make a mock at sin—or, "Sin deludes fools."
righteous … favour—that is, of God, instead of the punishment of sin.
10. Each one best knows his own sorrows or joys.
11. (Compare Pr 12:7). The contrast of the whole is enhanced by that of house and tabernacle, a permanent and a temporary dwelling.
12. end thereof—or, "reward," what results (compare Pr 5:4).
ways of death—leading to it.
13. The preceding sentiment illustrated by the disappointments of a wicked or untimely joy.
14. filled … ways—receive retribution (Pr 1:31).
a good man … himself—literally, "is away from such," will not associate with him.
15. The simple … word—He is credulous, not from love, but heedlessness (Pr 13:16).
16. (Compare Pr 3:7; 28:14).
rageth—acts proudly and conceitedly.
17. He … angry—literally, "short of anger" (compare Pr 14:29, opposite idea).
man … hated—that is, the deliberate evildoer is more hated than the rash.
18. inherit—as a portion (compare Pr 3:35).
are crowned—literally, "are surrounded with it," abound in it.
19. Describes the humbling of the wicked by the punishment their sins incur.
20. This sad but true picture of human nature is not given approvingly, but only as a fact.
21. For such contempt of the poor is contrasted as sinful with the virtuous compassion of the good.
22. As usual, the interrogative negative strengthens the affirmative.
mercy and truth—that is, God's (Ps 57:3; 61:7).
23. labour—painful diligence.
talk … penury—idle and vain promises and plans.
24. (Compare Pr 3:16).
foolishness … folly—Folly remains, or produces folly; it has no benefit.
25. Life often depends on truth-telling.
a deceitful … lies—He that breathes out lies is deceit, not to be trusted (Pr 14:5).
26. The blessings of piety descend to children (Pr 13:22; 20:7; Ex 20:6).
27. (Compare Pr 13:14).
fear of the Lord—or, "law of the wise," is wisdom (Ps 111:10).
28. The teaching of a true political economy.
29. slow … understanding—(Compare Pr 14:17).
hasty—(Compare Pr 14:17).
exalteth folly—makes it conspicuous, as if delighting to honor it.
30. A sound heart—both literally and figuratively, a source of health; in the latter sense, opposed to the known effect of evil passions on health.
31. reproacheth his Maker—who is the God of such, as well as of the rich (Pr 22:2; Job 31:15; and specially 1Sa 2:8; Ps 113:7).
32. driven—thrust out violently (compare Ps 35:5, 6).
hath hope—trusteth (Pr 10:2; 11:4; Ps 2:12), implying assurance of help.
33. resteth—preserved in quietness for use, while fools blazon their folly (Pr 12:23; 13:16).
34. Righteousness—just principles and actions.
exalteth—raises to honor.
is a reproach—brings on them the ill-will of others (compare Pr 13:6).
35. wise—discreet or prudent.
causeth shame—(Pr 10:5; 12:4) acts basely.