Proverbs 14

1 Wisdom is building her house, but the foolish woman is pulling it down with her hands.

2 He who goes on his way in righteousness has before him the fear of the Lord; but he whose ways are twisted gives him no honour.

3 In the mouth of the foolish man is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will keep them safe.

4 Where there are no oxen, their food-place is clean; but much increase comes through the strength of the ox.

5 A true witness does not say what is false, but a false witness is breathing out deceit.

6 The hater of authority, searching for wisdom, does not get it; but knowledge comes readily to the open-minded man.

7 Go away from the foolish man, for you will not see the lips of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the man of good sense makes his way clear; but the unwise behaviour of the foolish is deceit.

9 In the tents of those hating authority there is error, but in the house of the upright man there is grace.

10 No one has knowledge of a man's grief but himself; and a strange person has no part in his joy.

11 The house of the sinner will be overturned, but the tent of the upright man will do well.

12 There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.

13 Even while laughing the heart may be sad; and after joy comes sorrow.

14 He whose heart is turned away will have the reward of his ways in full measure; but a good man will have the reward of his doings.

15 The simple man has faith in every word, but the man of good sense gives thought to his footsteps.

16 The wise man, fearing, keeps himself from evil; but the foolish man goes on in his pride, with no thought of danger.

17 He who is quickly angry will do what is foolish, but the man of good sense will have quiet.

18 Foolish behaviour is the heritage of the simple, but men of good sense are crowned with knowledge.

19 The knees of the evil are bent before the good; and sinners go down in the dust at the doors of the upright.

20 The poor man is hated even by his neighbour, but the man of wealth has numbers of friends.

21 He who has no respect for his neighbour is a sinner, but he who has pity for the poor is happy.

22 Will not the designers of evil come into error? But mercy and good faith are for the designers of good.

23 In all hard work there is profit, but talk only makes a man poor.

24 Their wisdom is a crown to the wise, but their foolish behaviour is round the head of the unwise.

25 A true witness is the saviour of lives; but he who says false things is a cause of deceit.

26 For him in whose heart is the fear of the Lord there is strong hope: and his children will have a safe place.

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, by which one may be turned from the nets of death.

28 A king's glory is in the number of his people: and for need of people a ruler may come to destruction.

29 He who is slow to be angry has great good sense; but he whose spirit is over-quick gives support to what is foolish.

30 A quiet mind is the life of the body, but envy is a disease in the bones.

31 He who is hard on the poor puts shame on his Maker; but he who has mercy on those who are in need gives him honour.

32 The sinner is overturned in his evil-doing, but the upright man has hope in his righteousness.

33 Wisdom has her resting-place in the mind of the wise, but she is not seen among the foolish.

34 By righteousness a nation is lifted up, but sin is a cause of shame to the peoples.

35 The king has pleasure in a servant who does wisely, but his wrath is against him who is a cause of shame.

Proverbs 14 Commentary

Chapter 14

Verse 1 A woman who has no fear of God, who is wilful and wasteful, and indulges her ease, will as certainly ruin her family, as if she plucked her house down. Verse 2 . Here are grace and sin in their true colours. Those that despise God's precepts and promises, despise God and all his power and mercy. Verse 3 . Pride grows from that root of bitterness which is in the heart. The root must be plucked up, or we cannot conquer this branch. The prudent words of wise men get them out of difficulties. Verse 4 . There can be no advantage without something which, though of little moment, will affright the indolent. Verse 5 . A conscientious witness will not dare to represent anything otherwise than according to his knowledge. Verse 6 . A scorner treats Divine things with contempt. He that feels his ignorance and unworthiness will search the Scriptures in a humble spirit. Verse 7 . We discover a wicked man if there is no savour of piety in his discourse. Verse 8 . We are travellers, whose concern is, not to spy out wonders, but to get to their journey's end; to understand the rules we are to walk by, also the ends we are to walk toward. The bad man cheats himself, and goes on in his mistake. Verse 9 . Foolish and profane men consider sin a mere trifle, to be made light of rather than mourned over. Fools mock at the sin-offering; but those that make light of sin, make light of Christ. Verse 10 . We do not know what stings of conscience, or consuming passions, torment the prosperous sinner. Nor does the world know the peace of mind a serious Christian enjoys, even in poverty and sickness. Verse 11 . Sin ruins many great families; whilst righteousness often raises and strengthens even mean families. Verse 12 . The ways of carelessness, of worldliness, and of sensuality, seem right to those that walk in them; but self-deceivers prove self-destroyers. See the vanity of carnal mirth. Verse 14 . Of all sinners backsliders will have the most terror when they reflect on their own ways. Verse 15 . Eager readiness to believe what others say, has ever proved mischievous. The whole world was thus ruined at first. The man who is spiritually wise, depends on the Saviour alone for acceptance. He is watchful against the enemies of his salvation, by taking heed to God's word. Verse 16 . Holy fear guards against every thing unholy. Verse 17 . An angry man is to be pitied as well as blamed; but the revengeful is more hateful. Verse 18 . Sin is the shame of sinners; but wisdom is the honour of the wise. Verse 19 . Even bad men acknowledge the excellency of God's people. Verse 20 . Friendship in the world is governed by self-interest. It is good to have God our Friend; he will not desert us. Verse 21 . To despise a man for his employment or appearance is a sin. Verse 22 . How wisely those consult their own interest, who not only do good, but devise it! Verse 23 . Labour of the head, or of the hand, will turn to some good account. But if men's religion runs all out in talk and noise, they will come to nothing. Verse 24 . The riches of men of wisdom and piety enlarge their usefulness. Verse 25 . An upright man will venture the ( proverbs 14:26-27 ) Those who fear the Lord so as to obey and serve him, have a strong ground of confidence, and will be preserved. Let us seek to this Fountain of life, that we may escape the snares of death. Verse 28 . Let all that wish well to the kingdom of Christ, do what they can, that many may be added to his church. Verse 29 . A mild, patient man is one that learns of Christ, who is Wisdom itself. Unbridled passion is folly made known. Verse 30 . An upright, contented, and benevolent mind, tends to health. Verse 31 . To oppress the poor is to reproach our Creator. Verse 32 . The wicked man has his soul forced from him; he dies in his sins, under the guilt and power of them. But godly men, though they have pain and some dread of death, have the blessed hope, which God, who cannot lie, has given them. Verse 33 . Wisdom possesses the heart, and thus regulates the affections and tempers. Verse 34 . Piety and holiness always promote industry, sobriety, and honesty. Verse 35 . The great King who reigns over heaven and earth, will reward faithful servants who honour his gospel by the proper discharge of the duties of their stations: he despises not the services of the lowest.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KINGS 4

As in the preceding chapter we have a proof of the wisdom and understanding which the Lord gave to Solomon, as promised, so in this an account is given of the riches and honour he was possessed of; of him, as king over all Israel, and of his princes, 1Ki 4:1-6; of the providers of food for his household in the several parts of the land, 1Ki 4:7-19; of the largeness and extent of his dominions, and of the peace and prosperity thereof, 1Ki 4:20,21,24,25; of his daily provisions for his household and for his cattle, 1Ki 4:22,23,26-28; and of his superior wisdom and knowledge to all others in all nations, which brought some out of all to hear it, 1Ki 4:29-34.