Proverbs 14:21-31

21 Whoever ¹despises his neighbor is a sinner, but ²blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

22 Do they not go astray who ³devise evil? Those who devise good meet^{[a] 4}steadfast love and faithfulness.

23 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk ⁵tends 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 ⁶breathes out lies is deceitful.

26 In the fear of the Lord one has ⁷strong confidence, and ⁸his children will have ⁹a refuge.

27 The fear of the Lord is ¹⁰a fountain of life, that one may ¹¹turn away from the snares of death.

28 In ¹²a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.

29 Whoever is ¹³slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

30 A tranquil^[b] heart gives ¹⁴life to the flesh, but ¹⁵envy^[c] makes ¹⁶the bones rot.

31 Whoever oppresses a poor man ¹⁷insults his ¹⁸Maker, ¹⁹but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

Proverbs 14:21-31 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. 14:21 ch. 11:12
• 2. 14:21 Ps. 41:1
• 3. 14:22 See ch. 3:29
• 4. 14:22 ch. 3:3
• 5. 14:23 [ch. 11:24; 21:5; 22:16]
• 6. 14:25 ver. 5
• 7. 14:26 [ch. 1:33]
• 8. 14:26 [Ps. 73:15]
• 9. 14:26 See Ps. 14:6
• 10. 14:27 See ch. 10:11
• 11. 14:27 See ch. 13:14
• 12. 14:28 [1 Kgs. 4:20]
• 13. 14:29 ch. 16:32; 19:11; [ver. 17; Eccles. 7:9; James 1:19]
• 14. 14:30 See ch. 4:22
• 15. 14:30 [Ps. 112:10]
• 16. 14:30 ch. 12:4
• 17. 14:31 ch. 17:5; [Matt. 25:40, 45]
• 18. 14:31 ch. 22:2; See Job 35:10
• 19. 14:31 ch. 28:8

Footnotes

• [a] 14:22 Or 'show'
• [b] 14:30 Or 'healing'
• [c] 14:30 Or 'jealousy'