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. 21:14 [ch. 17:8; 18:16]
• 2. 21:15 [ch. 10:29]
• 3. 21:16 [Ps. 49:14]
• 4. 21:18 [ch. 11:8]
• 5. 21:18 Isa. 43:3
• 6. 21:19 [ver. 9]
• 7. 21:20 [Ps. 112:3]
• 8. 21:20 [Job 20:15, 18]
• 9. 21:21 ch. 15:9; Matt. 5:6; [ch. 3:3]
• 10. 21:21 ch. 3:16; 1 Kgs. 3:11; Matt. 6:33; See ch. 4:22
• 11. 21:22 [ch. 24:5; Eccles. 7:19]; See 2 Sam. 5:6-9; Eccles. 9:14-18
• 12. 21:23 See ch. 13:3
• 13. 21:23 ch. 22:5
• 14. 21:23 ch. 12:13
• 15. 21:24 ch. 1:22; See Ps. 1:1

Footnotes

• [a] 21:14 Hebrew 'a bribe in the bosom'