Mishle 14:24

24 The ateret chachamim is their riches, but the foolishness of kesilim is folly.

Mishle 14:24 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 14:24

The crown of the wise [is] their riches
Riches being used by them to increase and improve their knowledge and wisdom, and for the good of men, are an honour to them, and give them credit and reputation among men of sense and goodness; see ( Ecclesiastes 7:11 Ecclesiastes 7:12 ) ; [but] the foolishness of fools [is] folly;
mere folly, extreme folly, just the same as it was; riches make them never the wiser; yea, their folly is oftentimes made more manifest through the ill use they make of their riches; spending them in the gratification of their sinful lusts; and making no use of them for their own improvement in knowledge, or for the good of their fellow creatures. The Targum is,

``the glory of fools is their folly;''
and that is no other than their shame, and in which they glory; such fools are wicked men.

Mishle 14:24 In-Context

22 Do they not go astray that plot rah? But chesed and emes shall be to them that plan tov.
23 In all hard work there is profit, but idle chatter of the sfatayim (lips) tendeth only to makhsor (poverty, want).
24 The ateret chachamim is their riches, but the foolishness of kesilim is folly.
25 An ed emes (true witness) saveth nefashot (souls, lives), but a lying witness is a betrayer.
26 In the Yirat Hashem is strong confidence, and his banim shall have a place of refuge.
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.