Proverbs 14 Study Notes

14:18 Inexperienced people (see note at 1:4) who refuse to seek wisdom remain naive and gullible and thus inherit (see note at 3:35) foolishness.

14:19 It is implied that the wicked will bow down to the righteous. Judgment took place at the gates of cities, suggesting that the righteous person will have a prominent place in the city (31:23) and stand in judgment of the wicked. This does not always prove to be true in this life, but it will certainly be true in eternity.

14:20 This is not a promise or endorsement (see the next verse); it is an astute observation of human nature.

14:21 On happy, see note at 3:13-18.

14:22 On loyalty and faithfulness, see note at 3:3-4.

14:23 Endless talk is literally “words of lips”; it could also be translated “mere words” (2Kg 18:20). Hard work is labor that is physically or emotionally draining. Outside of the Lord’s blessing, it is vain (10:22; Ps 127:1-2). But diligent work (Pr 6:6-11) is better than recklessness (21:5), idleness (10:4), fraud (13:11), or get-rich-quick schemes (28:20).

14:24 On crown, see note at 4:9. Fools (Hb kesiyl) end up where they started.

14:25 On truthful and utters lies, see note at 12:17.

14:26 On strong confidence, see note at 21:22.

14:27 This proverb is the same as 13:14 except that the fear of the Lord is in place of “a wise person’s instruction.” The two ideas are nearly interchangeable because wisdom presupposes the fear of the Lord (9:10; 15:33).

14:28 When a ruler’s followers desert him, he can be devastated or terrified (1Sm 13:11-12; 30:6; 1Kg 12:1-20).

14:29 Patient is literally “slow at becoming angry.” Outside of Proverbs, the phrase is always used of God in the OT (Ex 34:6; Nm 14:18; Neh 9:17; Ps 86:15; 103:8; 145:8; Is 48:9; Jr 15:15; Jl 2:13; Jnh 4:2; Nah 1:3).

14:30 It is not wrong to be passionate or zealous for a proper cause (Nm 25:11; 1Kg 19:10; Ps 69:9), but a person should not be envious or jealous of sinners (Pr 3:31; 23:17; 24:1,19) or of the assignment God has given to others (Ps 106:16; Ec 4:4; Jms 3:16).

14:31 Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker.

14:32 Even while he is dying or after his death (the Hebrew is ambiguous), the righteous person looks for and finds refuge in the Lord.

14:33 Wisdom among fools (Hb kesiyl) is merely known; among the discerning, she literally “comes to rest.”

14:34 While many proverbs promote personal ethics, this proverb takes ethics to a national level.

14:35 Servant of a king probably refers to a royal official, not a household slave.