1 Every wise H2454 woman H802 buildeth H1129 her house: H1004 but the foolish H200 plucketh it down H2040 with her hands. H3027
2 He that walketh H1980 in his uprightness H3476 feareth H3373 the LORD: H3068 but he that is perverse H3868 in his ways H1870 despiseth H959 him.
3 In the mouth H6310 of the foolish H191 is a rod H2415 of pride: H1346 but the lips H8193 of the wise H2450 shall preserve H8104 them.
4 Where no oxen H504 are, the crib H18 is clean: H1249 but much H7230 increase H8393 is by the strength H3581 of the ox. H7794
5 A faithful H529 witness H5707 will not lie: H3577 but a false H8267 witness H5707 will utter H6315 lies. H3576
6 A scorner H3887 seeketh H1245 wisdom, H2451 and findeth it not: but knowledge H1847 is easy H7043 unto him that understandeth. H995
7 Go H3212 from the presence H5048 of a foolish H3684 man, H376 when thou perceivest H3045 not in him the lips H8193 of knowledge. H1847
8 The wisdom H2451 of the prudent H6175 is to understand H995 his way: H1870 but the folly H200 of fools H3684 is deceit. H4820
9 Fools H191 make a mock H3887 at sin: H817 but among the righteous H3477 there is favour. H7522
10 The heart H3820 knoweth H3045 his own H5315 bitterness; H4787 and a stranger H2114 doth not intermeddle H6148 with his joy. H8057
11 The house H1004 of the wicked H7563 shall be overthrown: H8045 but the tabernacle H168 of the upright H3477 shall flourish. H6524
12 There is H3426 a way H1870 which seemeth right H3477 unto H6440 a man, H376 but the end H319 thereof are the ways H1870 of death. H4194
13 Even in laughter H7814 the heart H3820 is sorrowful; H3510 and the end H319 of that mirth H8057 is heaviness. H8424
14 The backslider H5472 in heart H3820 shall be filled H7646 with his own ways: H1870 and a good H2896 man H376 shall be satisfied from himself.
15 The simple H6612 believeth H539 every word: H1697 but the prudent H6175 man looketh well H995 to his going. H838
16 A wise H2450 man feareth, H3373 and departeth H5493 from evil: H7451 but the fool H3684 rageth, H5674 and is confident. H982
17 He that is soon H7116 angry H639 dealeth H6213 foolishly: H200 and a man H376 of wicked devices H4209 is hated. H8130
18 The simple H6612 inherit H5157 folly: H200 but the prudent H6175 are crowned H3803 with knowledge. H1847
19 The evil H7451 bow H7817 before H6440 the good; H2896 and the wicked H7563 at the gates H8179 of the righteous. H6662
20 The poor H7326 is hated H8130 even of his own neighbour: H7453 but the rich H6223 hath many H7227 friends. H157
21 He that despiseth H936 his neighbour H7453 sinneth: H2398 but he that hath mercy H2603 on the poor, H6035 H6041 happy H835 is he.
22 Do they not err H8582 that devise H2790 evil? H7451 but mercy H2617 and truth H571 shall be to them that devise H2790 good. H2896
23 In all labour H6089 there is profit: H4195 but the talk H1697 of the lips H8193 tendeth only to penury. H4270
24 The crown H5850 of the wise H2450 is their riches: H6239 but the foolishness H200 of fools H3684 is folly. H200
25 A true H571 witness H5707 delivereth H5337 souls: H5315 but a deceitful H4820 witness speaketh H6315 lies. H3577
26 In the fear H3374 of the LORD H3068 is strong H5797 confidence: H4009 and his children H1121 shall have a place of refuge. H4268
27 The fear H3374 of the LORD H3068 is a fountain H4726 of life, H2416 to depart H5493 from the snares H4170 of death. H4194
28 In the multitude H7230 of people H5971 is the king's H4428 honour: H1927 but in the want H657 of people H3816 is the destruction H4288 of the prince. H7333
29 He that is slow H750 to wrath H639 is of great H7227 understanding: H8394 but he that is hasty H7116 of spirit H7307 exalteth H7311 folly. H200
30 A sound H4832 heart H3820 is the life H2416 of the flesh: H1320 but envy H7068 the rottenness H7538 of the bones. H6106
31 He that oppresseth H6231 the poor H1800 reproacheth H2778 his Maker: H6213 but he that honoureth H3513 him hath mercy H2603 on the poor. H34
32 The wicked H7563 is driven away H1760 in his wickedness: H7451 but the righteous H6662 hath hope H2620 in his death. H4194
33 Wisdom H2451 resteth H5117 in the heart H3820 of him that hath understanding: H995 but that which is in the midst H7130 of fools H3684 is made known. H3045
34 Righteousness H6666 exalteth H7311 a nation: H1471 but sin H2403 is a reproach H2617 to any people. H3816
35 The king's H4428 favour H7522 is toward a wise H7919 servant: H5650 but his wrath H5678 is against him that causeth shame. H954
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.