Proverbs 14:16-35

16 ¹One who is wise is cautious^[a] and ²turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.

17 A man of ³quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.

18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 ⁴The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 ⁵The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, ⁶but the rich has many friends.

21 Whoever ⁷despises his neighbor is a sinner, but ⁸blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

22 Do they not go astray who ⁹devise evil? Those who devise good meet^[b]10steadfast love and faithfulness.

23 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk ¹¹tends only to poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly.

25 A truthful witness saves lives, but one who ¹²breathes out lies is deceitful.

26 In the fear of the LORD one has ¹³strong confidence, and ¹⁴his children will have ¹⁵a refuge.

27 The fear of the LORD is ¹⁶a fountain of life, that one may ¹⁷turn away from the snares of death.

28 In ¹⁸a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.

29 Whoever is ¹⁹slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

30 A tranquil^[c] heart gives ²⁰life to the flesh, but ²¹envy^[d] makes ²²the bones rot.

31 Whoever oppresses a poor man ²³insults his ²⁴Maker, ²⁵but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

32 ²⁶The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but ²⁷the righteous finds refuge in his death.

33 Wisdom ²⁸rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.^[e]

34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

35 A servant who deals wisely has ²⁹the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

Proverbs 14:16-35 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. [Proverbs 22:3; Proverbs 27:12]
• 2. [Proverbs 3:7]; See Job 28:28; Psalms 34:14
• 3. [ver. 29]
• 4. [Genesis 42:6; 1 Samuel 2:36]
• 5. Proverbs 19:7
• 6. Proverbs 19:4
• 7. Proverbs 11:12
• 8. Psalms 41:1
• 9. See Proverbs 3:29
• 10. Proverbs 3:3
• 11. [Proverbs 11:24; Proverbs 21:5; Proverbs 22:16]
• 12. ver. 5
• 13. [Proverbs 1:33]
• 14. [Psalms 73:15]
• 15. See Psalms 14:6
• 16. See Proverbs 10:11
• 17. See Proverbs 13:14
• 18. [1 Kings 4:20]
• 19. Proverbs 16:32; Proverbs 19:11; [ver. 17; Ecclesiastes 7:9; James 1:19]
• 20. See Proverbs 4:22
• 21. [Psalms 112:10]
• 22. Proverbs 12:4
• 23. Proverbs 17:5; [Matthew 25:40, 45]
• 24. Proverbs 22:2; See Job 35:10
• 25. Proverbs 28:8
• 26. Proverbs 24:16
• 27. Genesis 49:18; Psalms 16:11; Psalms 17:15; Psalms 23:4; 2 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 2 Timothy 4:18; [Numbers 23:10]; See Job 19:25-27
• 28. Ecclesiastes 7:9; Proverbs 12:16; Proverbs 29:11
• 29. [Proverbs 16:13; Proverbs 22:11]; See Matthew 24:45-47

Footnotes

• [a]. Or fears [the Lord]
• [b]. Or show
• [c]. Or healing
• [d]. Or jealousy
• [e]. Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools