Proverbs 14

King James Version (KJV) · English

1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. 2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. 3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of 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 will utter lies. 6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. 7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not 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 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour. 10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. 11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle 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 that 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 rageth, and is confident. 17 He that is soon angry dealeth 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 before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. 20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. 21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy 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 labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. 24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly. 25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies. 26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. 28 In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince. 29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. 30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. 31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor. 32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death. 33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known. 34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. 35 The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

Commentary — not Bible text

Proverbs 14:1

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.

Proverbs 14:2

2. uprightness--is the fruit of fearing God, as falsehood and ill-nature (Pr 2:15; 3:32) of despising Him and His law.

Proverbs 14:3

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.

Proverbs 14:4

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).

Proverbs 14:5

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.

Proverbs 14:7

7. Avoid the society of those who cannot teach you.

Proverbs 14:8

8. Appearances deceive the thoughtless, but the prudent discriminate.

Proverbs 14:9

9. Fools make a mock at sin--or, "Sin deludes fools."

righteous ... favour--that is, of God, instead of the punishment of sin.

Proverbs 14:10

10. Each one best knows his own sorrows or joys.

Proverbs 14:11

11. (Compare Pr 12:7). The contrast of the whole is enhanced by that of house and tabernacle, a permanent and a temporary dwelling.

Proverbs 14:12

12. end thereof--or, "reward," what results (compare Pr 5:4).

ways of death--leading to it.

Proverbs 14:13

13. The preceding sentiment illustrated by the disappointments of a wicked or untimely joy.

Proverbs 14:14

14. filled ... ways--receive retribution (Pr 1:31).

a good man ... himself--literally, "is away from such," will not associate with him.

Proverbs 14:15

15. The simple ... word--He is credulous, not from love, but heedlessness (Pr 13:16).

Proverbs 14:16

16. (Compare Pr 3:7; 28:14).

rageth--acts proudly and conceitedly.

Proverbs 14:17

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.

Proverbs 14:18

18. inherit--as a portion (compare Pr 3:35).

are crowned--literally, "are surrounded with it," abound in it.

Proverbs 14:19

19. Describes the humbling of the wicked by the punishment their sins incur.

Proverbs 14:20

20. This sad but true picture of human nature is not given approvingly, but only as a fact.

Proverbs 14:21

21. For such contempt of the poor is contrasted as sinful with the virtuous compassion of the good.

Proverbs 14:22

22. As usual, the interrogative negative strengthens the affirmative.

mercy and truth--that is, God's (Psa 57:3; 61:7).

Proverbs 14:23

23. labour--painful diligence.

talk ... penury--idle and vain promises and plans.

Proverbs 14:24

24. (Compare Pr 3:16).

foolishness ... folly--Folly remains, or produces folly; it has no benefit.

Proverbs 14:25

25. Life often depends on truth-telling.

a deceitful ... lies--He that breathes out lies is deceit, not to be trusted (Pr 14:5).

Proverbs 14:27

27. (Compare Pr 13:14).

fear of the Lord--or, "law of the wise," is wisdom (Psa 111:10).

Proverbs 14:28

28. The teaching of a true political economy.

Proverbs 14:29

29. slow ... understanding--(Compare Pr 14:17).

hasty--(Compare Pr 14:17).

exalteth folly--makes it conspicuous, as if delighting to honor it.

Proverbs 14:30

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.

Proverbs 14:32

32. driven--thrust out violently (compare Psa 35:5, 6).

hath hope--trusteth (Pr 10:2; 11:4; Psa 2:12), implying assurance of help.

Proverbs 14:33

33. resteth--preserved in quietness for use, while fools blazon their folly (Pr 12:23; 13:16).

Proverbs 14:34

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).

Proverbs 14:35

35. wise--discreet or prudent.

causeth shame--(Pr 10:5; 12:4) acts basely.

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