Proverbs 14:23-33

23 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk ¹tends 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 ²breathes out lies is deceitful.

26 In the fear of the LORD one has ³strong confidence, and ⁴his children will have ⁵a refuge.

27 The fear of the LORD is ⁶a fountain of life, that one may ⁷turn away from the snares of death.

28 In ⁸a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.

29 Whoever is ⁹slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

30 A tranquil^[a] heart gives ¹⁰life to the flesh, but ¹¹envy^[b] makes ¹²the bones rot.

31 Whoever oppresses a poor man ¹³insults his ¹⁴Maker, ¹⁵but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

32 ¹⁶The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but ¹⁷the righteous finds refuge in his death.

33 Wisdom ¹⁸rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.^[c]

Proverbs 14:23-33 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 11:24; Proverbs 21:5; Proverbs 22:16]
• 2. ver. 5
• 3. [Proverbs 1:33]
• 4. [Psalms 73:15]
• 5. See Psalms 14:6
• 6. See Proverbs 10:11
• 7. See Proverbs 13:14
• 8. [1 Kings 4:20]
• 9. Proverbs 16:32; Proverbs 19:11; [ver. 17; Ecclesiastes 7:9; James 1:19]
• 10. See Proverbs 4:22
• 11. [Psalms 112:10]
• 12. Proverbs 12:4
• 13. Proverbs 17:5; [Matthew 25:40, 45]
• 14. Proverbs 22:2; See Job 35:10
• 15. Proverbs 28:8
• 16. Proverbs 24:16
• 17. 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
• 18. Ecclesiastes 7:9; Proverbs 12:16; Proverbs 29:11

Footnotes

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