Proverbs 21:14-24

14 ¹A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe,^[a] strong wrath.

15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous ²but terror to evildoers.

16 One who wanders from the way of good sense ³will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

18 ⁴The wicked is a ⁵ransom for the righteous, and the traitor for the upright.

19 It is ⁶better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.

20 ⁷Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man ⁸devours it.

21 Whoever ⁹pursues righteousness and kindness will find ¹⁰life, righteousness, and honor.

22 ¹¹A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 ¹²Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue ¹³keeps himself out of ¹⁴trouble.

24 ¹⁵"Scoffer" is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.

Proverbs 21:14-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 9

This chapter relates a second vision Solomon had at Gibeon, in which he received an answer to his prayer in the preceding chapter, 1Ki 9:1-9 that passed between him and Hiram king of Tyre, 1Ki 9:10-14, the places that Solomon built or repaired, 1Ki 9:15-19, the Canaanitish people that became bondmen to him, and the officers he had among the children of Israel, 1Ki 9:20-23 the removal of Pharaoh's daughter to the house built for her, 1Ki 9:24. Solomon's attention to religious services, 1Ki 9:25 and the navy of ships he employed, which brought him in great riches, 1Ki 9:26-28.

Cross References

• 1. [Proverbs 17:8; Proverbs 18:16]
• 2. [Proverbs 10:29]
• 3. [Psalms 49:14]
• 4. [Proverbs 11:8]
• 5. Isaiah 43:3
• 6. [ver. 9]
• 7. [Psalms 112:3]
• 8. [Job 20:15, 18]
• 9. Proverbs 15:9; Matthew 5:6; [Proverbs 3:3]
• 10. Proverbs 3:16; 1 Kings 3:11; Matthew 6:33; See Proverbs 4:22
• 11. [Proverbs 24:5; Ecclesiastes 7:19]; See 2 Samuel 5:6-9; Ecclesiastes 9:14-18
• 12. See Proverbs 13:3
• 13. Proverbs 22:5
• 14. Proverbs 12:13
• 15. Proverbs 1:22; See Psalms 1:1

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew a bribe in the bosom