Proverbs 14

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

1 The ¹wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

2 He who ²walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, But he who is ³devious in his ways despises Him.

3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back, But ⁴the lips of the wise will protect them.

4 Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.

5 A ⁵trustworthy witness will not lie, But a ⁶false witness ⁷utters lies.

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.

7 Leave the ⁸presence of a fool, Or you will not discern words of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way, But ⁹the foolishness of fools is deceit.

9 Fools mock at sin, But ¹⁰among the upright there is good will.

10 The heart knows its own ¹¹bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy.

11 The ¹²house of the wicked will be destroyed, But the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 There ¹³is a way which seems right to a man, But its ¹⁴end is the way of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, And the ¹⁵end of joy may be grief.

14 The backslider in heart will have his ¹⁶fill of his own ways, But a good man will ¹⁷be satisfied with his.

15 The naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers his steps.

16 A wise man is cautious and ¹⁸turns away from evil, But a fool is arrogant and careless.

17 A quick-tempered * man acts foolishly, And a man of evil devices is hated.

18 The naive inherit foolishness, But the sensible are crowned with knowledge.

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

20 The ²⁰poor is hated even by his neighbor, But those who love the rich are many.

21 He who ²¹despises his neighbor sins, But ²²happy is he who is gracious to the poor.

22 Will they not go astray who ²³devise evil? But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.

23 In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.

24 The ²⁴crown of the wise is their riches, But the folly of fools is foolishness.

25 A truthful witness saves lives, But he who ²⁵utters lies is treacherous.

26 In the ²⁶fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge.

27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death.

28 In a multitude of people is a king's glory, But in the dearth of people is a prince's ruin.

29 He who is ²⁷slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick-tempered * exalts folly.

30 A ²⁸tranquil heart is life to the body, But passion is ²⁹rottenness to the bones.

31 He ³⁰who oppresses the poor taunts ³¹his Maker, But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.

32 The wicked is ³²thrust down by his wrongdoing, But the ³³righteous has a refuge when he dies.

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, But in the hearts of fools it is made known.

34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.

35 The king's favor is toward a ³⁴servant who acts wisely, But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.

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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.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 34

1. Ruth 4:11; Proverbs 31:10-27
2. Proverbs 19:1; Proverbs 28:6
3. Proverbs 2:15
4. Proverbs 12:6
5. Revelation 1:5; Revelation 3:14
6. Exodus 23:1; Deuteronomy 19:16; Proverbs 6:19; Proverbs 12:17
7. Proverbs 19:5
8. Proverbs 23:9
9. 1 Corinthians 3:19
10. Proverbs 3:34; Proverbs 11:20
11. 1 Samuel 1:10; Job 21:25
12. Job 8:15
13. Proverbs 12:15; Proverbs 16:25
14. Romans 6:21
15. Ecclesiastes 2:1, 2
16. Proverbs 1:31; Proverbs 12:21
17. Proverbs 12:14; Proverbs 18:20
18. Job 28:28; Psalms 34:14; Proverbs 3:7; Proverbs 22:3
19. 1 Samuel 2:36; Proverbs 11:29
20. Proverbs 19:7
21. Proverbs 11:12
22. Psalms 41:1; Proverbs 19:17; Proverbs 28:8
23. Psalms 36:4; Proverbs 3:29; Proverbs 12:2; Micah 2:1
24. Proverbs 10:22; Proverbs 13:8; Proverbs 21:20
25. Proverbs 14:5
26. Proverbs 18:10; Proverbs 19:23; Isaiah 33:6
27. Proverbs 16:32; Proverbs 19:11; Ecclesiastes 7:9; James 1:19
28. Proverbs 15:13
29. Proverbs 12:4; Habakkuk 3:16
30. Proverbs 17:5; Matthew 25:40; 1 John 3:17
31. Job 31:15; Proverbs 22:2
32. Proverbs 6:15; Proverbs 24:16
33. Genesis 49:18; Psalms 16:11; Psalms 17:15; Psalms 37:37; Psalms 73:24; 2 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 2 Timothy 4:18
34. Matthew 24:45, 47; Matthew 25:21, 23

Footnotes 20

[a]. Lit "of pride"
[b]. Lit "breathes out"
[c]. Lit "know"
[d]. Lit "lips"
[e]. Lit "guilt"
[f]. Or the "favor" of God
[g]. Lit "from himself"
[h]. Lit "simple"
[i]. Lit "fears"
[j]. Lit "simple"
[k]. Or "afflicted"
[l]. Lit "word of lips"
[m]. Lit "breathes out"
[n]. Lit "treachery"
[o]. Or "reverence"
[p]. Or "His"
[q]. Or "reverence"
[r]. Lit "short of spirit"
[s]. Or "calamity"
[t]. Lit "inward part"

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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible